Charlotte County planning panel backs three telecom permits after visual‑impact concerns

Chairman Andrew Carwile presided over the Charlotte County Planning Commission on Feb. 28, 2023, when the panel recommended approval of conditional use permits for three telecommunications projects in Charlotte County and found each proposal to be in accord with the county comprehensive plan.

County staff introduced the first application, a U.S. Cellular request to construct a telecommunication tower on part of Tax Parcel #7-A-65-C near 334 Thorntons Mill Road in Red House. Emilee Lauer, speaking on the applicant’s behalf, reviewed project details and the staff analysis under section 2232 comprehensive‑plan review requirements. There were no public comments on the U.S. Cellular application; commissioners moved to find the proposal in accord with the Charlotte County Comprehensive Plan and then recommended approval of the conditional use permit with staff’s conditions. The motions carried with all members present voting yes.

For Verizon’s application to build a tower on part of Tax Parcel #33-2-C near 13363 Patrick Henry Highway (Brookneal), county staff and Lori Schweller of law firm Williams Mullen presented the proposal and the supporting materials. Adjacent landowner Donna Arthur told the commission the tower would harm views from her property and said that, because timbering had occurred on the subject parcel, "the only screening was located on her property, and it provided no coverage during the winter." Commissioners noted the site map showed the tower approximately 990 feet from Ms. Arthur’s dwelling and asked staff and the applicant about setbacks and screening. After discussion, the commission found the Verizon proposal in accord with the comprehensive plan and recommended approval of the conditional use permit with staff’s recommended conditions; the motion carried with all members present voting yes.

The commission also heard a Viasat application for a commercial satellite dish site on part of Tax Parcel #42-A-103K near 230 Heartland Drive in Keysville. Jerrod Foutes spoke for Viasat and described the project. Commissioners asked about visual screening, potential interference from equipment, visibility from Heartland Drive and whether the existing Viasat site would remain in use. In discussion of permit conditions, commissioners asked Viasat to consider reconfiguring screening — specifically, moving chain‑link fencing to the north side of a closure where it would not be visible to traffic. The commission voted to find the Viasat project in accord with the comprehensive plan and to recommend approval of the conditional use permit with staff’s conditions; the motion carried with all members present voting yes.

During public comment, citizen Bill Devin asked whether solar matters could be addressed that evening; Chairman Carwile advised that solar was not on the agenda and that other opportunities for comment would be available. In staff remarks at the end of the meeting, county staff said a zoning amendment review and a remote participation policy would be scheduled for a future meeting. The meeting was then adjourned.