Neighbors press planning board on proposed Valley Brook Road tower, citing stormwater and road safety

At a May 7 preliminary forum the New Hanover County Planning Board heard sustained opposition to special use permit S2602, a proposal for a 130-foot wireless support structure on Valley Brook Road. The hearing was informational; final action will be at a quasi-judicial hearing before the Board of County Commissioners on June 1.

Telfair Forest HOA president Troy Eason and other residents described the site as a low-lying bowl with wetlands and an access road they say was not engineered for heavy construction traffic. Eason warned that construction and equipment could create a damming effect that would breach the only access for roughly 60 homes in an emergency and leave residents stranded. "If this road gets taken out because of the damming ... all these homes are stranded," he said.

Residents also raised concerns about potential damage from construction vehicles to a 300-year-old oak and the capacity of local culverts and bridges to handle heavy loads; one speaker said the community includes hospice patients and others who rely on daily medical services and that any blocked access would pose life-safety risks.

Applicant counsel Anthony Bologna said the proposed compound would require limited disturbance (approximately 0.095 acres of construction disturbance) and that T-Mobile would be the anchor tenant with co-location available for additional carriers. Bologna said the design uses concealment shades rather than a faux tree and emphasized mature vegetation and limited visual intrusiveness. "We will certainly relay [neighbors' concerns] to our client and address impervious surface and road considerations with engineers," he said, noting that an independent appraiser and other experts can present evidence at the commissioners' quasi-judicial hearing.

Board members advised neighbors that quasi-judicial hearings require evidence from qualified experts (civil/stormwater engineers, traffic experts, appraisers) and recommended residents consider retaining experts if they wish to challenge technical claims. Several members suggested the applicant consider commitments such as performance bonds or road-repair agreements to address construction impacts.

Staff reminded participants that the prior special use permit for a similar tower (approved in 2021) had expired and that camouflage or concealment waivers must be decided by the commissioners. The board did not make a recommendation at the preliminary forum; both sides were told to prepare factual, in-person evidence for the June 1 commissioners' hearing.