Wednesday, December 13, 2000
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Wednesday, December 13, 2000 |
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Tower approval sparks angry confrontation By DAVE
HAMRICK Residents of Rebekah Lakes and Surrey Park subdivisions of Ga. Highway 85 south of Fayetteville will be there in force when the Fayette County Commission considers BellSouth Mobility's request for a 253-foot communications tower near their neighborhoods. The Planning Commission last week voted to recommend approval of the request, eliciting loud, angry protests from a crowd of about 30 residents of the two subdivisions. Shouts of "Y'all did us wrong," and "A hundred and eighty of us people don't even count" rang through the commission meeting room following the vote. Residents who had spoken during the public comment period attempted to interject more comments during the commission's discussion of the matter, and commission Chairman Bob Harbison at one point called on the county marshal's office to restore order and escort residents out of the meeting room. BellSouth representatives said the tower, planned for a 150-acre site on Harp Road, will be surrounded by woods and not visible to most residents of the neighborhoods. But five residents who rose to speak all pointed out that some day those woods will be cut down to make way for development, leaving the monopole tower more visible. Some opponents disputed BellSouth's claim, saying most of the land on the site is pasture. The tower would be unsightly and harm neighborhood property values, the residents argued. "If you put that in there, that would be the end of any new development in that area," said Charles Myers of Rebekah Lakes. Michael Tyler of BellSouth said the company needs the tower in that location and at that height to provide better coverage for its customers. Under county law, the company could erect a 180-foot tower without submitting to public hearings. County commissioners won't hear the request until Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex. The commission's Dec. 21 meeting is cancelled for the holiday season. The Planning Commission also voted 3-1 to recommend approval of developer Dan Stinchcomb's request for R-50 zoning, which allows one-acre lots, for 34.8 acres on West Bridge Road off Ga. Highway 92. "I've got a problem with this zoning when you look at the surrounding area," said commissioner Jim Graw, who voted against approval. Agent Randy Boyd said the 23 homes in the proposed subdivision will be at least 2,100 square feet in size and will sell for $250,000 and up. Commissioners also are recommending approval of new soil erosion control regulations, including a minimum fine of $250 for violations. Current law calls for a maximum fine but no minimum. The new rules also would put a three-year moratorium on development of any land where the owner violates the soil erosion rules in timbering the property.
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