Board grants variance and special‑use permit for 150‑foot Southern Towers Woodmere site

The Buncombe County Board of Adjustment approved both a variance and a special‑use permit May 13 allowing Southern Towers to construct a 150‑foot monopole telecommunications tower on a 135‑acre parcel at 2061 Upper Laurel Drive in Luther Ridge.

Applicant counsel said tree heights and local topography make an above‑ordinance height necessary for adequate coverage; the proposed tower would place Verizon antennas at 145 feet. "We're requesting that the, the height of the antenna to be at 145 feet," Verizon RF engineer Sam Kamel told the board while presenting pre‑ and post‑deployment signal analysis showing improved coverage in the target area.

Southern Towers also presented a site‑selection rationale intended to minimize visibility by siting the tower behind a maintenance facility rather than on the highest ridge top. The applicant submitted an FAA 'determination of no hazard to air navigation' (a negative air‑space hazard finding) conditioned on compliance with FAA 5G C‑band compatibility parameters; staff and counsel confirmed the letter was admitted into the record.

The board adopted findings that an unnecessary hardship would result from strict application of the height limit given tree line and topography, found the variance consistent with the ordinance’s purpose, and approved the special‑use permit with standard conditions including a telecommunications permit, decommissioning plan, and required registration with state and federal agencies. The board also approved natural vegetation in lieu of a formal landscaping plan for screening.