Cobb Board Eyes Need for 2 Cell Phone Towers Near Smyrna

Two camouflaged cell towers unique to the area were discussed Tuesday by the Cobb Board of Commissioners, with one proposal winning approval and one project delayed.

The 150-foot tall towers would both be placed along Hurt Road near Smyrna, says The Marietta Daily Journal. Both towers would be made with fake branches and vegetation to look like towering evergreen trees.

The first request for a special land-use permit was from NBA star Julius Erving’s company, Dr. J Enterprises LLC, in partnership with Municipal Communications LLC. Plan call for the tower to be built on 4.6 acres of land owned and occupied by the Hurt Road Baptist Church. The property is zoned residential and is surrounded by housing subdivisions. 

Marietta attorney Garvis Sams, who represents the communication companies and the church, said AT&T will be the tower’s primary user, with space for five other communication providers.

Pastor Mike Parker did not disclose how much Municipal Communications will pay to place the tower on the church property, but told the newspaper the money would go back into the neighboring community.

The second request would build a cell tower for use by four companies on the northwest corner of GB’s Stables, a 110-acre family farm surrounded by residential subdivisions, the newspaper says. AT&T has led the project, with T-Mobile and Verizon also expressing interest in the tower, said attorney John Moore.

What do you think of the proposed height of two cell phone towers on Hurt Road? Would they harm the aesthetic character of the area? Tell us in comments.