Commissioners OK rezone to allow Vertical Bridge tower to proceed to BZA

Putnam County commissioners voted unanimously May 18 to approve an ordinance rezoning a parcel from A1 to A2, allowing a proposed Vertical Bridge cell-tower project to move forward to a special-exception hearing before the county Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

Planning Director Lisa Zeiner told the board the rezone request was limited to whether the parcel met zoning requirements; Vertical Bridge and consultant Kimley Horn provided maps and data showing Verizon coverage gaps and the firm's site-selection analysis. Kimley Horn representatives Ryan Whitley and Jason Riggs told commissioners the parcel met the criteria for rezoning and distributed comparative analyses purporting minimal effect on property values near wireless facilities.

Several nearby property owners opposed the proposed location during public comment. A property owner identified only by the parcel address (11748 S CR 525 W) called the request "benign" for coverage needs but noted the process would next allow neighbors to raise concerns at the BZA. Les Martin said he and his wife, who have lived adjacent to the site for more than 20 years, did not want a tower "right out his front door" and raised concerns about aesthetics and property values; Jeremy Jankowske said he had deliberately avoided properties near towers and would not have built had he known of a planned tower nearby. Vertical Bridge representatives told the board that objections would be considered at the BZA hearing and that today—s vote was only on the zoning classification.

Commissioner Tom Helmer moved to approve the rezone, saying the county needed to address coverage dead zones for residents and law enforcement; Andy Beck seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Planning staff said that if the rezone is approved the application will be heard by the BZA on June 11 for the special-exception decision.