By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@TheCitizenNews.com

Fayette County's Planning Commission will continue its discussion with cell phone companies about the county's rules for construction of communications towers March 16.

Company representatives told the commission last week that no applications for tower permits have been submitted since the ordinance was approved last year, because the restrictions are impossible to meet.

Of particular concern are requirements that towers be at least 1,000 feet from the nearest house and that they be two miles apart except along state highway corridors, where they must be one mile apart.

The rules have essentially regulated the towers out of existence, representatives said. Commissioners will talk again at their regular monthly work session, March 16 at 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.

Commissioners last week also recommended denial of Johnie E Williams' request for a change in zoning from R-70, a subdivision category, to A-R (agricultural-residential) for 78.4 acres on Hood Road.

Williams' plan to graze goats on the property could be destructive to its sensitive wetlands, commissioners said.

The group's recommendation will go to the Fayette County Commission for consideration during its March 23 meeting, 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.