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Dillsboro considers cell tower ordinance

By Rose Hooper
While Jackson County Board of Commissioners studies its planning board recommendations on cell towers, the town of Dillsboro forges ahead with its moratorium.

Last month, Dillsboro enacted a six-month moratorium on cell tower construction. At its meeting Monday night, the town approved a draft ordinance on cell tower construction that it forwarded to its planning board for final form.

Included in the Dillsboro draft is a provision that towers cannot be constructed on any ridge above 2,000 feet. "That covers just about any ridge in Dillsboro," said Mayor Wade Wilson.

The 2,000-foot restriction exceeds most neighboring counties' ordinances prohibiting construction on ridges of more than 3,000 feet.

In other action Monday, Dillsboro's board members decided to set an example for the rest of the town.

"We've got a sign ordinance we need to enforce, but we first need to take care of our own dilapidated town sign," said Mayor Wilson. The board proposed replacing it with a wooden sign with engraved letters similar to one used by the town of Webster.

Also, as of April 1, merchants need to be reminded that the A-frame "We're Open" signs must be removed, Wilson said.

"(Merchants) can put them back up again in December, but they have to remove them during the peak tourist season," he said.

By board approval, Dillsboro will go after back taxes for the past five years. The board will initiate legal action and liens on property for those who have not paid.

Back to Archive: 04/06/00.