Cobb approves controversial cell phone tower

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved a cell phone tower on 34 acres owned by Wildwood Baptist Church at 4801 Wade Green Road.

With the 4-0 vote Tuesday, Municipal Communications will lease 3,600 square feet from the church that is surrounded by low-density residential communities.

The tower will have to be moved 300 feet closer to the road to address concerns expressed by neighboring residents and built within a year, according to the motion by Commissioner JoAnn Birrell.

The county’s independent consultant, Jonathan Edwards of CityScape Consulting, said the tower is justified with a half-mile radius needed to serve this area.

The application was filed in August followed by two community meetings at the church in October with 28 in opposition on Tuesday.

Commissioner Bob Ott was absent.