February 10, 2025
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Rockland panel OKs tower height increase

ROCKLAND – A few hours after Knox County commissioners voted Wednesday to terminate a lease agreement for a new dispatch center, sheriff’s office and emergency management center on Old County Road that would have required a 15-foot height increase for the communications tower, the City Council unanimously approved a zoning ordinance amendment allowing such an increase.

The county commissioners terminated the agreement because the projected cost of the new facility exceeded original estimates that had been budgeted.

Although the tower height issue seemed moot, the council at a special meeting Wednesday night voted 4-0 to permit increasing the height of any transmission tower in the city from 75 feet to 90 feet for use exclusively by a government entity, such as an emergency management agency.

In the discussion before the vote, Councilor Eric Hebert said he had been planning to support the amendment, regardless of what the county was doing.

“This ordinance amendment is nonspecific and doesn’t pertain to any particular property or towers throughout the city,” he said.

“Whether one believes the county is doing the right thing pursuing Old County Road, there seems to be a problem in not being able to go beyond 75 feet for E-911 or emergency transmission,” he added.

“At some point, this need has to be addressed,” he said. “The benefits of this ordinance could apply to the city, should the city need to erect a tower for its own uses.”

Councilor Brian Harden said he agreed with Hebert and thanked City Attorney Kevin Beal for drafting the amendment in a way that allows its use only for emergency services.

Councilor Thomas Molloy at first called for a comprehensive study of the height increase because some residents oppose towers in general.

“Some communities have been upset over high towers, and we’ve got to have some kind of provision here that does protect homeowners concerned about the view and the environment,” Molloy said.

“What I’m looking for is a little more protection for those homeowners concerned about the impact of towers,” he said. “I’d like it to be a little more comprehensive. I feel there will be other people asking for 90 feet, and I’d like to have some kind of legislation to protect the environment.”

Noting that he agreed with Molloy, Hebert said there is likely to be renewed interest in towers for wind generation as an alternative power source.

“There are some real issues of how they’re constructed,” Hebert said.

“This particular amendment is pretty restrictive about the type of tower, and I think it would be OK to move forward with this,” Hebert said.

After further discussion, the council unanimously approved the height increase. The amendment becomes effective in 30 days and can be appealed within that time.

gchappell@bangordailynews.net

236-4598


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