The Nelson County Board of Supervisors last week approved construction of a 160-foot communication tower on High Top Mountain on Fortune’s Cove Lane near Lovingston that was requested by the Virginia State Police.
The tower is planned to hold antennas and microwave dishes needed for the state police communication system and equipment for the Nelson County emergency communications system and the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative.
The tower will be a self-supporting structure of galvanized metal and will replace a wooden tower there owned by CVEC. Construction will also include a 50-foot-by-50-foot compound that will contain a concrete structure for equipment and be surrounded by an eight-foot chain link fence.
The compound will also include a 1,000-gallon propane tank.
Ronnie Rice, director of facilities for the Virginia State Police, said the tower is a critical point for the state police’s system.
West District Supervisor Thomas Bruguiere said it was a “win-win situation” for everyone involved.
During the public hearing, Judy Barnes, of Afton said she was concerned about the health aspects associated with microwave emissions.
Barnes said she has a business within one mile of the tower and that if there were any health risks, then she would like to be informed.
No one else spoke during the public hearing.
The Nelson County Planning Commission recommended approval April 29 but limited the number of antennas and microwave dishes.
Supervisors approved the application without that limitation.
South District Supervisor Joe Dan Johnson said he favored the 160-foot tower because it would reduce the number of towers needed in the county.
Johnson said he didn’t want the limitation on the number of antennas because communication technology changes quickly.
Bruguiere said he believed that limiting the number of antennas amounted to overregulation and that the applicants do not yet know how many antennas they need.
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