Franklin County approves narrower fall‑radius rule for communications towers after safety debate

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 3 to approve changes to the county zoning resolution that alter fall‑radius rules for new communication towers, a modification supporters said is needed to improve emergency communications while critics warned of increased liability near populated sites.

The change—recommended earlier by the county planning department with revisions from the Planning Commission—permits a variance to the 100‑percent fall‑radius requirement in limited circumstances when the Franklin County Emergency Management Communications Director documents an emergency‑communications need and a professional engineer provides a stamped fall‑zone letter describing a predetermined failure point.

Why it mattered: County and university officials argued that coverage gaps affect safety and emergency response on the University of the South’s property in eastern Franklin County. "Connectivity was bad in that area, which was not only an economic issue but also a safety issue," said Eric Hartman, a representative of the University of the South during the Planning Commission session. Proponents told commissioners the revised language preserves the 100‑percent fall radius as the baseline but creates a narrowly defined path to a variance where modern tower engineering and a verified public‑safety need exist.

What opponents said: Members of the Board of Zoning Appeals and nearby residents told planning commissioners they were worried about the risk to people and facilities. "You can't pay for a life," said A.L. Shasteen at the Planning Commission meeting, in reference to a proposed site near stadium bleachers. Board of Zoning Appeals chairman Monty Hawkins submitted written concerns asking who would be liable if a tower failed and proposing surety bonds or inspection standards.

Engineering and inspection: Tower-builder Pat Troxell‑Tant, owner of Vogue Towers, said modern monopole designs incorporate engineered failure points and routine inspections. "I have built towers for twenty‑four years, over six thousand towers, and there was no assurance, however it was less likely with the new construction and design which had a breaking point in the middle of the tower," she told the Planning Commission.

Planning Commission process: The Planning Commission considered the amendment at meetings in October. At the Oct. 2 meeting commissioners initially tabled the request to allow applicants to revise language and to give staff time to research practices used by neighboring jurisdictions. At the Oct. 30 meeting the Planning Commission recommended revised language—retaining the 100‑percent fall‑radius rule as the default but allowing a variance verified by the Emergency Management Communications Director and requiring a registered engineer’s fall‑zone letter—to the county commission.

County vote: At the Dec. 3 county commission meeting, a motion to approve the zoning changes was made and recorded as approved by voice vote, 13‑0. The measure amends Article IV, Section 17 of the Franklin County Zoning Resolution dealing with communication towers and stations.

What comes next: The new language requires engineering documentation when a variance is requested and ties the variance to verified public‑safety or emergency‑communications needs. The Planning & Zoning Department will retain the revised text and review future permit applications against the amended standard.

Timeline and provenance: Discussion and technical comments occurred at Planning Commission meetings on Oct. 2 and Oct. 30 (Planning Commission records), with the county commission public hearing and final vote documented at the Dec. 3 commission meeting.