Planning commission recommends preliminary approval for 315‑foot Harmony Towers site near Highway 191

The Edgefield County Planning Commission voted Feb. 12 to recommend preliminary approval of a proposed 315‑foot guyed communications tower to be installed by Harmony Towers Asset Company LLC near Blue Cross Bridge Road/Highway 191 in Johnston.

Applicant representative Jackson Nadeinger of Selective Solutions described the project and said the tower meets county code and that engineers provided an opinion the tower’s fall zone would remain on the property. "Basically, we're looking to do a 315 foot tower, standard build," Nadeinger said. "We meet the code...we do have an engineered letter stating that if the tower would fall, it would fall within the property."

Members of the public and commissioners raised concerns about sight lines and safety for slow‑moving farm equipment on Highway 191. A nearby landowner (public commenter, Unidentified Speaker 9) told the commission he owns several properties near the site and said his "main concern though is the highway out there and the safety aspect" for farm vehicles and line‑of‑sight at the narrow strip where the tower is proposed.

Staff and the applicant answered technical questions about siting and fall distance. Staff described the fenced equipment compound as 100‑by‑100 feet, reported the nearest property line is about 160 feet from the tower base and said pavement‑edge clearances would provide more than 100 feet of setback. "It is designed to fall completely and totally within the property it's sitting on," staff said, describing the tower as engineered to break at roughly 150 feet and to remain on the parcel if it collapses.

Commissioners also asked whether other carriers could use the structure; the applicant said AT&T is the anchor tenant and other carriers (T‑Mobile, DISH, Boost Mobile and others) can lease space later. Staff noted the county requires anchor points that county emergency systems can use if necessary.

The commission moved, seconded and voted to recommend preliminary approval; staff noted the applicant must return for final approval after completing required paperwork.

Why it matters: The tower will expand cellular coverage in the immediate area but raised local safety and visual‑impact concerns from residents near the site; the commission relied on an engineer’s fall‑zone assurance and staff’s site‑plan review in recommending preliminary approval.

What’s next: The applicant must complete paperwork and return for final approval; residents may provide further comment during the final public review stage.