Tower, mining approved

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

The Charles County Board of Zoning and Appeals approved a special exception request made by AT&T Mobility to erect a telecommunications tower next to Smallwood State Park in Rison.

The tower will be erected on less than an acre on Tranquility Place off of Chicamuxen Road, according to county planners. The tower will be 195 feet tall and have a 4-foot lightning rod near the top, planners said during a public hearing last week in La Plata.

The company had to seek a special exception to erect the tower because the land is in the rural conservation zone, county planners said.

Only two people testified during the Nov. 10 hearing. Indian Head resident Greg Richards asked who would maintain the road where the tower was being built and if there is damage to the road, who will fix it.

AT&T Mobility officials said the company would repair any damage to the road and provide maintenance.

The tower is being installed to provide better cell phone coverage in the western section of the county, county planners said. There is a "hole" in cellular service for AT&T cell sites in Rison, Chicamuxen and Marbury, company officials said, adding the tower will enhance coverage on highways in the area.

Surrounding vegetation near the property will provide adequate visual buffering from the road, county planners said, and it will not adversely impact the scenic view of the park.

The board approved the special exception with a few conditions, including that no more than four users' antennae could be affixed to the tower and the approved tower, antennae and ground equipment and any future ground equipment or antennae will require approval by the planning department for a minor site and building site plans.

The board is also requiring the company to come back to the county if there are any changes planned regarding the height of the tower because the special exception would have to be modified.

The board also approved a special exception following a brief public hearing for Berkleigh LLC to mine sand and gravel from almost five acres on a site located on Trinity Church Road to allow the property owner to build an agricultural irrigation pond.

A special exception is needed to do the project because the property is in the agricultural conservation zone, county planners said.

No one testified during the hearing.

The board approved the special exception with a few conditions, including that the hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and that no blasting or use of explosives be used during the mining operation.

nmcconaty@somdnews.com