Prince Frederick, MD – A special exception request from a communications company found favor with the Calvert County Board of Appeals during the panel’s August meeting. The board voted unanimously to grant the request from Telecom Capital Group LLC to construct a 172-foot tall telecommunications monopole tower on a parcel of land at the intersection of Adelina Road and Sheridan Point Road in Prince Frederick. The land is zoned Farm and Forest District/Agricultural Preservation District.
Telecom Capital, whose managing member is Maryland Delegate Mark N. Fisher, filed the application on behalf of property owner Lisa Winger.
The request for special exception was presented to the board of appeals during their July meeting. The board deferred action until Aug. 6. During the discussion prior to a motion and vote, board member John Ward noted Telecom Capital had identified three parcels for the location of the tower. Only Winger was receptive to the idea of leasing property.
Several residents expressed opposition to the plan, contending that wireless communication service is already adequate in the area and a tall tower would be a blight in the rural community.
Ward observed that wireless communication was “expanding in all directions” and the infrastructure currently in place may not allow for expansion in the area.
Board alternate Kenneth Moore acknowledged the opposition from several residents but noted that measures were going to be taken by Telecom Capital to minimize the tower’s visibility.
During his lengthy motion to approve the request, Ward made mention of Calvert’s Comprehensive Plan, which does not mention wireless communication specifically but does support expansion of infrastructure for business growth.
“As a resident of the neighborhood, I speak for myself and others when I say we remain opposed to the idea,” said Robert Harvey, who characterized his neighborhood as “bucolic.” He affirmed the new tower was “not needed” and could even pose an environmental hazard to nearby residents.
As for a possible appeal of the board’s decision, Harvey told The BayNet, “we did everything we could,” adding he personally didn’t plan to take the fight any further.
According to the application, the tower would have an 18-inch lightning rod attached. It would be contained within a 70-foot by 70-foot fenced compound.
As part of its final approval of the special exception request, the board of appeals agreed to impose no further conditions on the applicant’s plan.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com