CASE STUDY
Chinn Park Tower Tests and Proves Milestone’s Principles
Milestone believes that the benefits of strong wireless networks are as important as the appearance to a community. They resolve to take great care in designing their sites and to take community feedback to heart. When Verizon Wireless approached Milestone in the summer of 2013 about a possible tower at Chinn Park in Woodbridge, Virginia, Milestone had no idea just how far this resolve would be tested.
Chinn Tower Details
Height: 105′
Nearest Major Intersection: Prince William Parkway and Old Bridge Road
REJECTION
“We’re not going to be able to support this project.”
Milestone Communications heard these words from the Occoquan District Supervisor and Planning Commissioner just one week before the Planning Commission hearing. They were stunned. The project had (up until this moment) gone as well as it could have.
Milestone worked nearly a year with the Prince William County Parks Department to select a suitable location. Only one person attended the community meeting, and he seemed satisfied with the answers he was provided. Milestone had a positive staff report and had been told a few weeks earlier that the project was on track for approvals. What on earth had happened?
A few weeks before the Planning Commission Hearing, notification signs had been posted. The previously quiet Home Owners Associations sent in complaints to the Commissioner and Supervisor, stirring up their residents to do the same. In a few short days Milestone’s nearly approved project was nearly dead..
REPEAT
The first thing Milestone did was defer the hearing. They held another community meeting which was well attended. Some questioned the need for the site while others questioned the solution of having a tower site versus small cell. Most were simply upset about the location. Milestone and the Parks Department had carefully chosen the location with two considerations in mind: Parks did not want any interference with park activities, and Milestone wanted as much screening between the site and neighbors as possible. The current location met both requirements but residents felt the tower would be too visible inside the park.
Milestone proposed several concealment options, which included lowering and painting the tower or changing the style to a tree pole. Neither of these options were acceptable to the residents. If the tower was needed, they wanted it moved close to the Chinn Aquatics Center and Chinn library. So Milestone went back to the drawing board and to Verizon to discuss the situation and inevitable delays.
REJOICE!
Compliments and rave reviews started pouring in as soon as construction of the tower was completed on June 2nd.
The district never gives up governance. It gains a revenue stream.
Verizon and T-Mobile are both on the tower with space remaining for three more carriers, which will provide a recurring revenue stream for years to come.
For the Milestone team, this project represents much more than just a beautiful design solution. It represents their commitments. Milestone commits to its landowner partners a willingness to work with the community towards the best solution possible for each and every connectivity need. Milestone also commits to its carrier partners to diligently work towards a solution regardless of any roadblocks that may occur. It is vital for communities to have strong wireless infrastructure but it can be located and designed in a mindful way. Community feedback on a project is important to this process and can lead to amazing results.
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