Community to Meet on Piney Orchard Cell Tower Monday

Residents of Piney Orchard will gather Monday for a meeting to discuss a proposed cell tower at the community's elementary school. 

Milestone Communications has proposed building a 99-foot tower at Piney Orchard Elementary School, in order to assist Verizon in improving its mobile phone coverage. 

The community meeting, which is required by law, will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at the West County Area Library. 

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education reviewed the proposal on April 3. It does not need to vote on the plan, as it already has an approved Master Leasing Agreement with Milestone. Under the agreement, the school system receives 40 percent of all rent revenues from the tower and a $25,000 one-time payment. It will also receive $5,000 for every new carrier. 

While some residents have welcomed the proposal for a new tower because they believe it will improve their cell phone service, others have expressed concerns over health and safety of students within close proximity to the tower. 

As of early Sunday morning, 100 people had signed an online petition opposing the cell tower. 

See also: 

• Verizon Wants Cell Tower at Piney Orchard Elementary