Roswell Council Resumes Radio Tower Issue

The Roswell City Council will try again on Wednesday to approve the proposed site of a new public safety radio tower on Fouts Road. 

After deferring a decision last month following opposition from nearby residents, the council is expected to take up the matter at Wedneday's regular meeting that begins at 7 p.m. 

That meeting will be preceeded by a work session on the proposed Unified Development Code that begins at 5:30 p.m.

The Fouts Road radio tower issue highlights the agenda of the regular meeting (attached PDF), which like the work session was pushed back from Monday. 

Residents of the nearby Twelvestones neighborhood have been vocally opposed to the proposed 400-foot-high Fouts Road tower, which would be located on city-owned land at East Roswell Park. 

The city says the tower is needed as part of the newly formed North Fulton Regional Radio System Authority, which is seeking to improve emergency response communications in Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton and Sandy Springs. 

Another proposed tower in the new network in Roswell, on Cox Road, is being put on hold, but a timetable for its reconsideration has not been announced.

At its August meeting, the council voted 5-1 (with Nancy Price opposed) to approve the radio tower site on Hembree Road. 

Also on Wednesday's regular meeting agenda are the following items: 

• A request by Larry Strickland to rezone 5.03 acres to a residential conservation designation at 1270 Strickland Road. The proposed development would be for 15 detached single family homes, but there is neighborhood opposition and the Roswell Planning Commision recommended denying the request.
• A site plan amendment by JW Homes LLC for 27.90 acres at Holcomb Bridge Road, Scott Road and Eves Road for a proposed mixed-use development. Although nearby residents have expressed traffic concerns, the planning staff indicated the amendment calls for lesser density than the approved zoning. The planning commission has recommended approval.
• An agenda item to approve the reappointment of Nancy Allvine to the Board of Zoning Appeals. 
• Recognition of the Roswell Garden Club as the "Best Garden Club in the State."
• Recognition of Alice Champagne, Water Resources Manager, as the recipient of the American Public Works Association 2013 Award for Professional Manager of the Year - Water Resource.