Washington County Planning Board OKs Wheeler Cell Tower

FAYETTEVILLE -- County officials gave preliminary approval Thursday evening to construction of a 150-foot cellphone tower in the Wheeler area.

AT&T said the tower will help fill a gap in its coverage, helping convenience and safety in the community northwest of Fayetteville.

The Washington County Planning Board unanimously approved the request for a permit. The project will still go through several more stages of approval as it moves along, including from the Quorum Court.

Cell towers in the county have prompted sharp opinions from nearby landowners in the past. Juliet Richey, county planner, said that wasn't the case this time.

"We did not receive any comments from any property owners on this," she told the board, noting landowners were told by certified mail. "I don't know if anybody is upset about it."

The tower would stand near the intersection of Weir and Adams roads.

Steve Shaw, a neighboring landowner, asked the board to make AT&T responsible for any damage from construction to Adams Road, which he said is already unstable. The board agreed.

Now come more technical reviews of the tower itself, Richey said.

"They have to give us structural analyses and all the federal reports they have to do," she told the board. "All of that goes with the next step."

The lack of landowner protests likely means the Quorum Court will give its approval as well.

The court denied another tower's permit last summer. Smith Communications wanted to build a 300-foot tower near Prairie Grove.

In that case, landowners raised several objections and largely viewed the possible tower as an eyesore. The court sided with them.

Smith Communications filed a lawsuit against the county, which is ongoing.

NW News on 05/02/2014

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