Amherst supervisors consider cell phone towers

The Amherst supervisors are considering a cellphone tower ordinance to help expand service and coverage.

“I want to light up U.S. 60,” said Temperance-area Supervisor Claudia Tucker.

Swaths of western Amherst County have poor to little service, such as on U.S. 60. Service works beyond Long Mountain, but from there until near Amherst, little or no coverage exists.

Supervisors discussed the ordinance with Ellen Bowyer, the county attorney on Jan. 20 workshop.

Initially, a draft of the ordinance would allow 70-foot towers with increases of more than 20 feet through special exceptions to the county’s zoning ordinance.

But that height could be increased to 120 feet, with towers up to 199 feet through special exceptions.

With taller towers, perhaps fewer would be needed and could accommodate growth, supervisors said.

Some areas will be avoided: any ridge where a tower would be seen as part of the sky line; historic districts; conservation easements; within the scenic area of the Blue Ridge Parkway and within 200 feet of any state scenic highway.

The draft ordinance establishes two tiers in which towers could be used, such as federal or state land not included in the avoidance areas, and industrial, commercial and agricultural districts, among others.

Towers would be allowed, but limited, in residential and village districts, or on structures such as a church steeple or a water tank. No new erection of wireless towers would be allowed in those districts, which is consistent with the county code.

Towers of 120 feet would have to have no less than three antenna arrays, and towers over 150 feet must have no fewer than six.