Milton P&Z approves preliminary plans for TV tower

Milton Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a preliminary site plan for Loblolly LLC to erect a 525-foot-tall antenna tower on property the company owns on Sam Lucas Road.

Zac Crouch, engineer for Loblolly, said changes to the plan since it was granted a conditional-use permit for the project in January include incorporating recommendations from Delaware Department of Transportation on the 15-foot driveway leading to the tower. The tower would be on the same plot of land as Tidewater’s new wastewater treatment plant and five acres of town land, so the idea would be to have a shared entrance to access all three. 

When Milton Town Council approved the conditional-use permit, it attached six conditions recommended by the planning commission: The antenna tower must be set back from adjoining structures and property lines; the structure and the guy wires must be enclosed in a 6-foot-tall fence; the site plan will include the location of the fence and all ancillary structures; the antenna must meet Federal Communication Commission and Federal Aviation Administration regulations; no signs can be posted on the tower; and the proposal is subject to site-plan review.

Crouch said Loblolly has incorporated most of the conditions into its plans, although approvals from the FCC and FAA won’t be received until the company goes for final approval. 

Johnny Hopkins, president of Loblolly, said the tower will also have an emergency generator. The commission questioned whether there would be fire-safety controls at the tower in case something happens. Hopkins, Milton Fire Department chief, said the generator would be in a separate enclosure similar to the one at the firehouse. 

The exact location of the tower on the parcel is still to be determined, but Hopkins said it would be in the rear, southeast corner of the property. The tower would be made of steel and anchored with a guy-wire system in three directions. 

Loblolly is the property management arm of Draper Holdings, owner of television stations WBOC, WRDE, Fox 21 and Telemundo. Loblolly has indicated that space on the tower could be used for town communication equipment, a weather camera and up to three cellphone signal antennas. Hopkins said while the tower could take on additional carriers, its main purpose is for broadcasting and emergency signals for WBOC and WRDE. 

The property is zoned R-3 residential with a large-parcel development designation. Under that zoning, the tallest antenna that could be erected is 40 feet, hence the need for a conditional-use permit. 

With preliminary approval, Hopkins said the next step is environmental studies, which will take several months. Following those studies and approval by state agencies, Loblolly will create more detailed plans for final site-plan review. Hopkins said if there are no unforeseen delays, Loblolly hopes to begin construction by late summer or early fall.