Board defers decision on 195‑foot Old Pike tower after resident concerns

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors voted on Aug. 10 to defer a decision on a special‑use permit for a proposed 195‑foot monopole at Old Pike Road to the Aug. 24 meeting, after several residents urged more time to review revised application materials and raised procedural concerns.

Planning staff told the board the application originally proposed a lattice tower and was later revised to a monopole following staff comments. The department acknowledged an error in public postings: revised materials were included in the planning commission packet but were not posted to the county website until the evening before the planning commission hearing, which generated FOIA requests and public complaints. Staff said printed copies were provided to planning commissioners prior to their July 15 meeting and apologized for the missed posting.

Residents cited two distinct types of concerns. Joan Wolf argued the record does not meaningfully explain why the proposed site in a resource‑stewardship area meets comprehensive‑plan policies to minimize visual and land‑use impacts. "A structure nearly 200 feet tall matters for the scenic resources and compatibility with rural residential uses," she told the board. Brian Jonas said adjacent landowners received no written pre‑application notice from the applicant and that revised plans were not made available on the county website until late the night before the planning commission hearing. Jonas cited a locality’s authority under Virginia law to disapprove an application when an applicant fails to give adjoining property owners written notice before application.

Planning staff summarized technical details of the application: the proposed lease area is approximately 100 by 100 feet with a fenced compound planned at roughly 45 by 45 feet; the site is wooded and said to be outside FEMA flood hazard areas; VDOT raised no safety concerns about a proposed access; and the planning commission recommended approval, 4–2, with absences.

Supervisor King moved to defer to allow time for residents and staff to address outstanding questions; the board voted to defer by a recorded vote of 6 ayes.