Emergency Communication Tower: Proposed for Installation at Georgia Avenue and the ICC
- brookevilleknolls
- Aug 21, 2018
- 2 min read
From GOCA (link):
"The Greater Olney Civic Association (GOCA) strongly opposes the Maryland State Highway Administration’s proposed installation of a 349-foot tall radio communication tower off of Georgia Avenue in Olney. President Billy Becker sent the letter in the link below to Senator Roger Manno and Senator Craig Zucker on July 11, 2018.
The 349-foot tall emergency communication tower right would sit on the side of Georgia Avenue at the southern gateway into Olney. Not only would this be a huge industrial looking structure but the tower also would have strobe lights that would flash 24 hours a day to warn off aircraft. This would be a very significant and negative visual impact to everyone living in the Olney area.
On June 22, 2018, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) mailed out an announcement of a public hearing on this proposal filed by the State Highway Administration (SHA) for the tower on State-owned land at the northwest corner of the intersection of Georgia Avenue and the Inter County Connector in Olney. The public hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 26, with a decision on awarding tower construction contracts to follow shortly thereafter.
The premise is that its installation is warranted for purposes of public safety communications. The problem/concern is the fact that the height of the proposed tower (almost 2/3rds the size of the Washington Monument) and flashing lighting would be in the midst of the main thoroughfare of our community (Georgia Avenue) and immediately adjoining residential neighborhoods along a lovely stretch of attractively landscaped highway. Once constructed, other commercial users would be encouraged to add equipment to the tower, thus increasing the visual impact.GOCA is requesting a delay in the Park and Planning “Staff Report” and also a 60-day delay in the schedule for the public hearing.
For more information or to get involved, use the Contact Us page or email us at GOCAPresident@gmail.com."
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