Cell tower site plan approved

February 03, 2004|by TARA REILLY

A 90-foot cellular telephone tower disguised to look like a flagpole will be erected near the Appalachian Trail east of Boonsboro.

The Washington County Planning Commission on Monday approved the site plan for the tower, submitted by AT&T Wireless.

One other commercial carrier may be located on the tower, according to information provided by the planning department.

The tower, called a "stealth" tower because of its disguised design, will be on the Old South Mountain Inn property at 6132 Old National Pike.

The Washington County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception in April so the tower can be built.

While the height of the tower will exceed the height of surrounding trees by 10 feet, a flag will not fly on the tower and it will not be lighted, according to the Board of Zoning Appeals' ruling.

The ruling states there is a need for the tower in the South Mountain area because of a gap in coverage there.

The Appalachian Trail Conference, the Maryland Historical Trust and the Department of Natural Resources did not oppose the Board of Zoning Appeals' ruling, according to a planning document.

Popeye's plan gets nod

The Hagerstown area is getting another Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits fast-food restaurant.

The Washington County Planning Commission on Monday approved a site plan for the restaurant, which will be on one acre at 1382 Dual Highway, near Tulsa Lane.

The property is owned by Kasheer International.

There is a Popeye's on Valley Mall Road in Halfway.

Planning Commission member George Anikis was the only member to vote against the site plan, stating he thought the restaurant would be "shoehorned in" the location.

Associate Planner Jill Baker said Popeye's will employ 10 full- and part-time employees and be open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Development's second portion gains preliminary approval

The second section of the Westfields development off Sharpsburg Pike received preliminary approval from the Washington County Planning Commission Monday night.

The Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat and forest conservation plan for the development, which consists of 36 single-family homes.

The site is in Washington County's Urban Growth Area, an area where growth is encouraged.

The development, formerly known as Saint James Park, will have more than 700 units, Senior Planner Tim Lung said.

The Planning Commission approved the preliminary plat for the development's first section last month. That section calls for 76 dwelling units.

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