Commissioners approve special-use permit for Harmony Towers Gateway LLC

The Northampton County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a special-use permit for Harmony Towers Gateway LLC, concluding that the evidentiary record from a June 15 quasi-judicial hearing satisfied the six findings required under the county zoning ordinance.

A commissioner moved that the board "approve the special use permit application of Harmony Towers Gateway LLC for wireless communication tower upon finding that the applicant has demonstrated competent material and substantial evidence and record that all 6 criteria have been met," and the motion received a second before passing by a 3-to-1 vote. County Attorney Mikaela reminded the board that under North Carolina law the board's findings must be based on sworn evidence submitted in the hearing record and that speculative lay opinions cannot support a denial.

Commissioners asked whether the parcel is county-owned; the attorney confirmed the site is privately owned, identified in the record as Parcel 01-07350 with owners David and Deborah Dunlow and William Dunlow. One commissioner raised concerns that the approval could cluster wireless towers along I-95 and asked what the county would receive in return. "We get property taxes," Chair Martin said, noting a possible local revenue benefit but declining to give a specific revenue figure at the meeting.

The planning and zoning board had recommended approval, and the county attorney summarized the evidence admitted at the June hearing, including the permit application, site plan and testimony from a licensed appraiser. The chair announced the motion carried 3 to 1. The board did not provide a written revenue estimate for property taxes tied to this tower during the session.

The decision was taken in open session; commissioners moved on to citizen comments after the vote.