South Londonderry approves cell tower land development plan and waivers

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

The South Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors approved Verizon’s cell tower land development plan at In The Net Sports Complex and several requested waivers at the Aug. 12 meeting.

The proposed location is at 798 Airport Road on the back side of the property. Township officials shared the plan with LebTown, and it shows a proposed access drive, two parking spaces, and a turnaround area out of asphalt near the site. Then the tower and telecommunications compound would be fenced in at the end of the access drive.

Township manager John Eberly said Verizon has been discussing putting a cell tower in the area for about three years now and said it’s needed for the residents.

“Great example — I leave from this meeting here, I try to call my wife, I wait until I’m actually in Palmyra, almost to 422 to start calling because it doesn’t drop,” he said. “It’s well known in this area that it drops, so it is needed from that perspective.”

He said there isn’t currently a timeline for when construction will start or end, but he expects the company to move quickly now that they have the requested waivers and plan approval.

Eberly said the process was fairly long because the public pushed back against the tower in its initially proposed placements.

“There were some items from the public, and that was why they pushed away from the other location,” he said. “There were some public members that were at the zoning hearing up there, just because it’s at In The Net, where all the kids are at, but it seemed to dispel anybody’s issues, whether they liked it or not. The township can’t keep people from doing things if it’s been rezoned and if it’s allowable.”

With the approved waivers, the plan will be a combined preliminary and final land development plan. They also won’t have to install sidewalks, plant trees, create a natural resources plan, or make a wetlands report.

The project met some requirements for exemptions. Most waivers were requested because Verizon will be working on an internal lot and using existing infrastructure.

In other business, supervisors:

• Approved the sale of a highway trailer for $1,899.
• Approved a six-month extension for the Rising Sun’s temporary highway occupancy permit. 
• Reduced financial security for Forge Road RV Storage by $65,196.31 to $0.

The South Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors will have its next regular meeting at 27 W. Market St. on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.