County commission rejects cell tower next to Hurricane Creek

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Hamilton county commissioners this morning debated the fate of a proposed cell tower in a residential neighborhood, but finally cast a strong vote to deny the request.

Residents of the Hurricane Creek neighborhood have been fighting the proposed 150-foot telecommunications tower that is proposed on Jennifer Lane.

It is 190 feet from a home being built by Jeana Lee and her husband, who is a Chattanooga police officer.

The planning commission voted to deny the proposal from Verizon and its contractor.

Attorney Mike St. Charles for the Cell company explained why he felt the commission must approve–before the vote was taken.

“Certainly, you have some discretion, so that’s the “May” part of it, I’m just saying the discretion’s fairly limited in terms of – once you really go through these things and if we’ve objectively met those standards, then I think that you’re supposed to approve.”

Home Owner Jeana Lee said “I’m so happy. I’m so happy that our commissioners asked the questions they needed to ask and demanded, you know that this company provide factual evidence to support the need for this tower, which, they clearly didn’t do, which is why they denied it. I’m so thankful for them and the decision they made. But I am concerned what happens, what happens next.”

Commissioners were prepared to vote to deny when Commissioner Jim Fields asked that the decision be delayed for two weeks.

That idea was rejected and the vote to deny was 8-to-1.