Cell Tower OK'd For Linden Drive

Requests to the county for the erection of communications towers typically generate lively debates among planning and zoning commissioners and Monday's meeting was no exception.

Many times, residents don't want the tall structures perched near their neighborhood.

But the main sticking point with this latest request was not so much about aesthetics as the height of the tower. In the end, the applicant, T-Mobile South, was able to get another 20 feet added to accommodate antenna users. The 155-foot communication tower will be built on the west side of Linden Drive, south of Spring Hill Drive.

The site is next to an existing water plant, and there are commercial parcels nearby.

Lauralee Westine, an attorney representing T-Mobile, said all four antennas would be hidden inside the tower to make it less obtrusive.

Also Monday, P&Z commissioners:

• Granted a conditional use permit for a portable car wash and detailing business on the south side of State Road 50, near Interstate 75.

• Reapproved a master plan that allows the developer of a 160-unit apartment complex additional time to start construction on his project on the north side of Northcliffe Boulevard, west of Lamson Avenue.

• Approved a rezoning that allows for an indoor granite countertop cutting and outdoor slab business at Nicasio Road and Needham Court, near U.S. 19 and Hexam Road in northwest Hernando County.

• Granted a special exception use permit for Antioch Fellowship Baptist Church to build a 200-seat, 6,000-square-foot building at the intersection of Noah Avenue and Santoro Street, near the Spring Hill branch library off Spring Hill Drive.