Nov. 24. By Dave Vieser. Approaching a year after it was approved by the Cornelius Town Board, Florida-based PeakNet Cellular has not started construction on a 199-foot cell tower just off Jetton Road.

The tower, which was approved 3-2 by the Town Board over the objections of nearby residents, would replace the current 115-foot monopole cell tower on Duke Energy property located at 19328 Lake Norman Cove Drive.

Just under 200 feet is the highest a cell tower can be without lights.

Deputy Town Manager Wayne Herron said PeakNet has pulled a building permit, but there was no information about when construction would begin. PeakNet did not respond to Cornelius Today.

Controversy

PeakNet claimed the tower was needed to improve cell phone reception in the area, but not everyone concurred.

Bilodeau

Commissioners Denis Bilodeau and Jim Duke voted against the proposal. “I was the PPOA President when Verizon put in five 40-foot nodes in the area to improve reception. Did these nodes make a difference? The tower request came in just a few weeks after the smaller nodes were approved.”

The building permit was issued on Sept. 14 by Mecklenburg County.