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Board approves Crescent Lake Verizon tower despite adjacent-owner objections
Summary
The Board approved a special exception for a 199-foot Verizon monopole at 11975 Hwy. 47 after a presentation from the applicant and a public hearing in which adjacent owner Glenn Sweeney objected to the tower’s visibility. The approval includes conditions requiring compliance with the Comprehensive Plan and assurances about public welfare, safety, and service improvements.
The Mecklenburg County Board voted unanimously Jan. 12 to approve a special exception allowing Cellco Partnership/Verizon Wireless to build a 195‑foot monopole tower with a 4‑foot lightning rod (199 feet total) at 11975 Highway 47 in the northern portion of the county.
Attorney Anthony Bologna, representing the applicant, explained the Crescent Lake Tower project and said the site was previously approved in 2023 but that the original permit expired. Adjacent property owner Glenn Sweeney spoke during the public hearing objecting to the proposed location and urging the Board to reconsider placement. "The proposed tower would be directly visible over his home and barn," the minutes report Sweeney said; he told the Board his residence sits about 94 feet from his property line and that existing trees would not screen a 150‑foot structure at ground level. Rui Da Silva, an acquisition consultant who works with Verizon, described ongoing national equipment upgrades, including 5G additions, and offered to relay constituent concerns to Verizon and provide a contact for follow‑up.
The Planning Commission had voted unanimously in December in favor of issuing a new special exception. The Board’s approval included four stated conditions: compliance with the Mecklenburg County Comprehensive Plan (Public Infrastructure); a finding that the project will not be detrimental to public welfare; a finding it will not adversely affect health or safety in the neighborhood; and that the new location will improve cell service and internet connections in the area. The Board’s recorded vote on the motion was unanimous.
