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Commission hears church radio‑tower application; safety and historic‑site concerns raised
Summary
Planning staff presented a conditional‑use permit request for a 165‑foot radio tower behind a church on Cumberland Road and asked that the matter be set for a board public hearing on June 15. Neighbors and commissioners raised safety and historic‑site concerns; staff said the commission could recommend conditions but FAA/FCC rules govern lighting.
Planning staff told the Cumberland County Planning Commission that a 165‑foot radio tower was erected behind the Farm Bill Seventh‑day Adventist Church without local permits and that the church has applied for a conditional‑use permit to legalize and regularize the structure.
"The tower was erected in April of last year without local permits," staff said while summarizing the application and the required waiver to allow the tower's fall radius to extend to parcel boundaries. Staff explained the applicant holds FCC approvals that limited the height to 165 feet and recommended that the planning commission set the application for a public hearing before the board on June 15.
Commissioners and members of the public pressed staff and the applicant on safety and historic‑preservation questions. One commenter warned of a possible aircraft hazard near the Randolph Fire Station and said the tower should be made more visible: "If the commission approves this ... I do believe it needs to be painted in an obvious color," the commenter said. The commenter also argued that part of the property may overlap land where the April 7, 1865, Battle of Cumberland Church occurred; that point was raised as an issue to be considered by the board and by county review processes.
The applicant’s representative, who identified himself as the church's new pastor, apologized for not knowing local permitting requirements and said the church will install fencing and follow permitting steps if the board requires it. Staff told commissioners that towers below 200 feet are generally not required by the FCC or FAA to carry obstruction lighting but that the planning commission could recommend conditions (such as painting or reflective material) to the board. Staff said it would investigate options to balance aircraft visibility and light‑pollution concerns.
No final decision on CUP25‑02 was made at the planning commission meeting; staff requested that the commission set a public hearing on the application before the board at the commission’s next regular meeting on June 15.
