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Dillsboro to consider cell tower ordinanceBy Rose Hooper |
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At its next meeting, the town of Dillsboro may consider a telecommunication tower ordinance.
Due to the election machines at town hall on the first Monday of the month, the November board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13.
Back in March, the town board enacted a six-month moratorium on cell tower construction. The reason for the ordinance, Mayor Wade Wilson said, is to accommodate the wireless needs of residents, businesses and visitors, while protecting the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. Dillsboro will seek to "provide a uniform and comprehensive framework" for evaluating proposals for wireless telecommunications facilities. In so doing, they plan to preserve the scenic and visual character of their town. "The first thing we will encourage with all applications," Wilson said, "is the use of existing structures." The ordinance applies to any tower or structure exceeding 20 feet in height, limiting them to 175 feet in height. Dillsboro's proposed ordinance is based on neighboring Macon County's ordinance, Wilson said, and includes a $3,000 application fee. Last month in Transylvania County, commissioners moved to increase cell tower application fees from $250 to $2,500. Under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, local governments cannot place a blanket ban on these towers but can regulate them. While Jackson County's Planning Board has studied the cell tower issue, no plan of action has been accepted by the board of commissioners. Several zoning changes are also expected to be considered at the meeting. |
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