During its Aug. 19 meeting, the Putnam County Commission heard of plans to construct a 255-foot cell tower to improve cellular service and broadband access for rural residents near the west end of Lake Sinclair.
Following Putnam County Director of Planning and Development Lisa Jackson’s approval of the project, the commission voted unanimously to grant the request.
Bailey Lively submitted the construction permit request on behalf of APC Towers and property owner Brenda Napier at 671 Twin Bridges Rd. Lively sought conditional use of a parcel currently zoned agricultural, but which allows for the construction of towers with commission approval.
The tower is being built for T-Mobile, but AT&T as well as Verizon networks are expected to be included once it’s constructed. It will be located at Napier’s family-owned property and will be enclosed by a 60-by-60-foot fence. The design also provides landscaping to meet zoning requirements.
“This project will improve cell coverage in an area that has no to poor service,” Lively said during the hearing. “It will also enhance high-speed internet access and broadband connectivity for the community.”
Prior to the project's approval, however, District 3 Commissioner Steve Hersey sought clarification on the technology the tower will support. He noted the application emphasized 4G coverage despite carriers frequently advertising 5G networks.
Lively explained that while 5G is widely marketed, it is not always the most effective solution, particularly for rural settings.
“5G is more about capacity in areas with heavy traffic, like dense urban centers,” she said. “The wavelengths don’t travel as far. For this rural location, 4G will provide stronger, more reliable coverage. In many cases, towers are designed to carry both 4G and 5G, but in this case, 4G is what best fits the coverage needs.”
District 2 Commissioner Richard Garrett noted that the county’s land use plan identifies nearby areas for potential residential growth. He recognized the need for improved rural cell coverage but questioned whether a cell tower might create conflicts with the land plan.
“There’s a tension here,” Garrett said. “We need more coverage where more people live, but we also try to avoid placing towers in residential areas. How do we reconcile that?”
Jackson stated that, because the property remains zoned agricultural, the tower complies with current zoning regulations. If future rezoning to residential is requested, the portion of land containing the tower would remain agricultural, she added. Jackson also stressed the county’s land use plan is advisory only and does not override existing zoning.
“The zoning is there; it’s allowed by conditional use,” she stated. “If there was rezoning to zoning that was not allowed, that’s where the comprehensive land use plan would come into play.”
Commissioner Jeff Wooten of District 4, where the cell tower will be built, expressed confidence that it will not interfere with residential development. He noted the site is part of a large tract of family-owned land totaling several hundred acres and that across Twin Bridges Road from it is U.S. Forest Service land, “which will never be made residential.”
Also, Wooten added that the land has been held by the same family “for centuries” and is unlikely to change hands or be redeveloped in the near future.
“I know the families there well, and I don’t see this property becoming housing,” he said. “With no complaints from neighbors and clear benefits to the community, I think we’re in a good place.”
After hearing from Lively, Jackson, and each commissioner, Sharp called for a vote, and the request passed unanimously, allowing APC Towers to move forward with construction.
Lively said the tower is expected to be finished “in about three to six months.”