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Midlothian council denies request for 120‑foot communications tower near downtown
Summary
Council denied a specific‑use permit request for a 120‑foot type‑2 communications tower at 545 Burke Hawkins after staff said the proposal conflicted with future land‑use goals and raised height and landscaping concerns; applicant argued the tower would fill a T‑Mobile coverage gap and aid 911 service.
Council considered a request for a 120‑foot type‑2 communications tower on a 0.062‑acre portion of Lot 2 (Fastenal Reef subdivision). Senior Planner Daniel Humber told council staff found the proposal incompatible with the future land‑use plan because the tower exceeded height limits for the light‑industrial designation and lacked required landscaping; P&Z had previously failed the request in a tie vote. Applicant David Draper, representing wireless carriers, said the tower—reduced from 150 feet to 120 feet—was designed primarily for T‑Mobile to fill a coverage gap along Main Street and could host three carriers.
Draper said the site would improve coverage for businesses, the school and residences and argued coverage gaps present a 911 concern: "We really wanna get in here to not only T‑Mobile coverage, but it's also a 911 issue." Council debated alternatives (more, shorter towers vs a single taller multicarrier tower) and discussed landscaping and setback variances. After discussion a motion to deny the SUP carried; the council recorded the denial during the meeting.
