Wireless tower in Peabody recommended
Staff writer
Peabody could soon have better cell service.
At their meeting Thursday night, planners approved recommendatinng to county commissioners that a conditional use permit be approved for a Nex-Tech Wireless tower with the stipulation the Federal Communications Commission approves the project.
Creighton Remus with Nex-Tech said the FCC would likely have already approved the project if not for the recent federal shutdown.
The tower would be placed in the back pasture of an agriculture district.
The 250-foot tower would provide Peabody with better cellular service. Right now, there is nothing close, Remus said.
The pasture is at 90th and Indigo Rds., and the tower would be on part of a parcel consisting of 157.11 acres. A 26x30 foot barrier fence would be installed.
The nearest property is about 1,000 feet away, and the tower would have little to no impact on local roads, planning and zoning administrator Sharon Omstead said.
Commissioners asked Remus how long the company had been providing service to the area.
“This is a new service out in that area,” Remus said. “This is brand new. We are expanding”
If the tower were to stop being used for 12 months, it would be determined to be abandoned, and everything would have to be removed with the soil being returned to where the land was before the tower was installed.
Commissioner John Weiser wanted to know who would be inspecting the tower. The county would not be doing inspections.
Commissioner Delbert Lane replied that the FCC inspected towers of this type.
Omstead said she would present the recommendation to county commissioners at their Dec. 22 meeting. She asked Remus to attend.