Neighbors, Planning Commissioners Nix Proposed Cell Tower on Hospice Land

By Desiree Parker Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Last week, James City County planning commissioners voted to deny an application for a “slick pole” cell tower near Hospice House on Powhatan Parkway.

More than a dozen residents of the nearby Powhatan Secondary neighborhood came to the meeting to urge commissioners to vote against the tower. They brought along a petition signed by 200 other neighbors who agree the proposed tower shouldnt' be built.

At stake is not just reception, says the Hospice House executive director, but a reliable annual revenue stream of $40,000 for the nonprofit.

Residents were concerned because many were able to see the balloon during the balloon test, which means the 120-foot pole would be pretty visible once constructed.

County staff recommended the commissioners deny the application because the tower would be visible to residents due to a lack of mature trees in the area around it. That renders the proposal not in compliance with the comprehensive plan or the performance standards for wireless communications facilities set by supervisors in 1998.

Planning Commission Chairman Rich Krapf told WYDaily that the commissioners (excluding Joe Poole, who recused himself because he’s on the board of directors at Hospice House) voted unanimously to deny the application because “the towers should be compatible with the character of the area and have a minimal impact on the residents and the scenic area.” The pole would stick up well above the tree line and would be visible to about 10 percent of the neighborhood, said Krapf.

He said he and other commissioners appreciated the emotional impact the decision would have on Hospice House, since this is revenue they won’t be able to get.

Both Krapf and Senior Planner Jason Purse agreed that cell tower applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and decisions can subjective in nature – for instance, “the definition of suitably camouflaged” can be subjective, said Krapf.

Hospice House Executive Director Linda Taylor said the nonprofit could really use the $40,000 a year to help offset their $800,000 annual operating budget. She said administrators have been thinking about the idea of a tower for a long time, and finally decided to give it a go because wireless carrier nTelos promised “it will be well kept. We were impressed with what they’d do to protect [the landscaped area]… they would add plantings and buffers,” she said.

“But in all honesty, the way the economy has gone we could use the income. The $40,000, that’s huge to us now that the county and localities are decreasing funding… businesses and individuals are more cautious [with donations].” Like other area nonprofits, Hospice House is seeing an increase in need – not more guests, says Taylor, but family members less equipped to handle end-of-life care for a loved one.

Hospice House offers end-of-life care for terminally ill locals, which includes staff care every day, all day. Last year they helped 149 guests and over 700 of their family members.

“We feel that we’ve been good neighbors” to residents of Powhatan Secondary, Taylor said. “I was sad [the meeting] went the way it did.

“We’ll continue on, and we’ll keep working on diversifying our funding… but right now, it’s a struggle.”

James City County supervisors will likely consider the request and the planning commission's recommendation at a meeting next month.