Cell towers proliferate in Oconee?

Josh Stephens, Oconee County zoning administrator, announced last week that county staff is at work on a map delineating communication cell towers across the county. The members of the Oconee Board of Zoning Appeals are likely to find the map helpful as they go about deciding if future towers are warranted and where they should go. The county’s zoning laws require the board of appeals to treat all communication towers as special exceptions. One such exception was made last week for a 180-foot tower to be built near Westminster by SCANA Communications for its client Verizon. Stephens advised the board to prepare to gather January 28 to hear another cell tower application. An attorney representing the application heard last week told the board that the exploding use of smart phones is driving the need for more towers at lower heights.