A cell tower is needed much more in the rural areas surrounding the Town of Farmville than inside the town itself.

Assistant Town Manager C. Scott Davis gave a presentation at the Jan. 10 Farmville Town Council meeting regarding the proposed cell tower, a 150-foot close-mount monopole communications structure that would sit on the property located at 718 Griffin Blvd.

According to the presentation, the site addresses major network capacity concerns that Verizon Wireless and Sprint have identified on the south side of Farmville, including the Longwood University campus.

“The location at 718 Griffin Blvd. is in a R-3A zoning district,” Davis said. “In that district, because this pole will allow for four different potential companies to locate on it, based on our current zoning code, it is classified as a public utility, which is an approved use.”

He said in the zoning code for that area there is a height provision.

“It talks about structures in residential areas, no more than 35 (feet). It talks about college structures, no more than, I believe, 125 (feet),” Davis said. “There are other areas that are exempt.”

We agree with those who spoke in opposition to the tower’s placement at 718 Griffin Blvd. during the public participation section of the meeting.

“The list goes on and on,” Perry Carrington said after citing a list of concerns about the effects the tower could have on health. “I know that in 2018 there is a need for cell towers. I guess just about everybody here has a cell phone, but I don’t think we want one in our backyard.”

We also understand that this tower could be a potential eyesore if nothing else, and a potential threat to historic Farmville. If a cell tower is needed, consider servicing the areas that are truly in need of greater cell service. There are a great deal of areas devoid of cell reception throughout the Heart of Virginia.

The concept of the proposed tower will be brought before the Farmville Board of Zoning Appeals to discuss whether the tower meets the definition of radio aerial, which is exempt from certain height restrictions in Farmville.