Commission pauses decision on 197-foot Monopole near I‑85 after safety and ordinance concerns

Municipal Communications sought a special-use permit for a 197-foot monopole at 626 Sandown Road to replace a decommissioned 300-foot guyed tower and maintain cellular and FirstNet coverage along I‑85. County consultant David Dyer told commissioners the application "violates your ordinance, and the fall zone does come into play," citing a 195-foot fall-zone calculation that could place the highway or adjacent parcels within a potential collapse area if the tower failed at full height.

Applicants and industry consultants—Peter Corey (CEO, Municipal Communications) and engineer Clay Brogdon—argued the monopole design and foundation mitigate those concerns. Corey described monopole foundations and said in his experience a monopole "to my knowledge has never failed at the base" and that engineering details, break-point designs and a 30-foot drilled concrete foundation with rebar and 30 anchor bolts were used to reduce risk. Brogdon presented RF studies saying a shorter tower would not provide needed coverage; he also noted a fall-zone letter from Sabre Industries that showed monopole buckling would create a much smaller fall area.

Planning staff said the Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission voted 3–2 to deny the application because it failed to meet height and fall-zone standards. After extended technical discussion about alternate locations, fall-zone math, FAA/FCC review and whether a conditional approval could be structured, Commissioner moved that the board continue the matter for two weeks to allow more study; the motion passed.