Planning Commission Defers Herndon Monopole Vote Again

HERNDON, VA — Fairfax County Planning Commission voted at its Wednesday meeting to delay its vote again on Milestone Town Limited Partnership's application to install a monopole on Herndon High School's athletic grounds.

Milestone originally presented its application to install a 124-foot tall monopole and equipment compound on the north side of the Herndon High School football field at the Planning Commission's Feb. 26 meeting. Several Herndon residents spoke in opposition to the application, objecting to the size and location of the overall project. They also said that Milestone had not provided the public sufficient advance notice of the project.

Draneville Commissioner John Ulfelder made a motion to delay the vote until March, to allow the public and Fairfax County Public Schools more time to weigh in on the project. The vote was pushed back further to allow Milestone to revise its application.

"[Milestone] submitted a significant set of revisions in May," Ulfelder said. "Staff has gone through those and prepared a staff report addendum, which was published in June. Staff is still recommending approval."

Under Milestone's revised application, the monopole would be shorter — 114 feet — and have only a four cell carrier capacity. The compound area would be smaller and moved nearer the visitors bleachers. In addition, two future carrier lease areas, measuring 24 feet by 9 feet, would be located under the bleachers for future use.

Fairfax County Public Schools also conducted a meeting July 1 with individuals in the Herndon community who were concerned about the project.

"I would like to leave a little bit more time for people to review the staff report addendum and to provide comment," Ulfelder said. "As you may have seen, we've started to receive a number of additional comments prior to our decision on the record."

Ulfelder made a motion for the Planning Commission to defer the vote for a decision only to the commission's July 15 meeting, with the record to remain open for additional public comment. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the motion.

The Board of Supervisors will host a public hearing on the Monopole application Sept. 15 at 3 p.m.

Fairfax County Public Schools already has 35 monopoles on school properties across the county, including administrative centers. Herndon Middle School has had a monopole since 2012.

Also see ...

• Plans For Herndon High Monopole Revised; Hearings Rescheduled
• Herndon High Monopole Decision Delayed Indefinitely
• Planning Commission Postpones Vote On Herndon High Monopole