Wednesday, February 14, 2001

Tower request withdrawn after neighbors object By DAVE HAMRICK dhamrick@TheCitizenNews.com An application for a cell phone tower on Ga. Highway 74 has been withdrawn in the face of neighborhood opposition. Sprint Communications had asked for exceptions to the rules governing towers so it could erect a tower on the grounds of New Hope Baptist Church South, on Hwy. 74 just south of the Starr's Mill school complex. The proposed tower would have been 380 feet closer to a home and nine tenths of a mile closer to another tower than the law allows. Nancy Meyer's home is 620 feet from the tower site and, when she heard about plans for the tower, said she was thinking of hiring a lawyer. Her neighbors in Brechin Park subdivision, next door to the church, launched a petition drive. In response to the neighborhood actions, church business administrator Harold Reed said the church had no intention of allowing the tower on church land if neighbors were opposed. "When we were approached by Sprint, we saw it as a way for us to provide a community service," he said. But, "If the community doesn't want it, that's fine with us." Fayette zoning administrator Kathy Zeitler confirmed this week that the application had been withdrawn. "The church withdrew its consent," she said. What do you think of this story? Click here to send a message to the editor. Back to News Home Page | Back to the top of the page