Councilman Williams Update Joint Meeting with Planning Commission 4/9/26

Here’s a brief summary of last Thursday’s meeting.

Allowing Towers in Colonial Beach’s commercial zoning.

This topic has been discussed for several weeks and at a prior council meeting town staff suggested we have a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission to listen to the proposal and a request for a CUP conditional use permit to allow towers in C1 Zoning.  After push back from the public over serious concerns about allowing towers in any commercial zone staff modified their proposal. 

Many concerns were addressed including radiation, noise, number of towers, locations, benefits to community and visual appearance.

Radiation is not a serious concern due to the distance and angle of the antenna.

Noise is not a much of a factor except occasional backup generator use.

Number of towers will be limited because they typically are not installed within 2 miles of each other and the way staff modified the ordinance, towers would be limited to the Food Lion shopping center area (see blue outline in blog pic).

Location will most likely be limited to the one tower on the lot behind Atlantic Union Bank.  This is determined based off the applicant (Verizon) stating towers are not placed within 2 miles of each other.  Locating in marinas and in the middle of town is no longer on the table. 

Benefits will be Verizon cell/ data service, other providers that may co locate on the tower and emergency services.

Outcomes 

Council left after the presentations, and discussions without voting.  The Planning Commission finished their meeting and voted for all pending text amendments and approved the CUP application for the communication tower.  Next this will move to Council.  I’m not 100% happy with the way this process was handled but I do support the tower now that many concerns have been addressed. 

The Planning Commission also approved the Fire Department’s request to build an event center/ storage facility. The event space will be rented out which will will help the Fire Department raise much needed funds.

When this was first proposed there was no information on the tower type but now we know it’s a monopole tower. Example below.

Councilman David Williams

Please email or call with questions or comments:

dwilliams@colonialbeachva.gov

540-604-4335