Gatlinburg approves new cell tower

GATLINBURG — Cell service is known to be iffy at times in the city, but a new cell tower proposed for the city's East Holly Ridge property should help alleviate that.

Jeff Ownby, Gatlinburg's Building and Planning Director, shared with the City Commission something they already know — people want better cell reception in downtown.

"It is a perfect location for it. This should drastically improve service in downtown," Ownby said.

The City Commission approved the lease with Vogue Towers to place a cell tower on their East Holly Ridge property at their meeting Tuesday. The lease establishes a $1,000 per month rental fee with an initial lease of five years.

The proposed tower is a 120 foot monopole and will increase wireless communication in and around downtown Gatlinburg for both tourists and residents, a letter from the company's CEO said.

In other business, the city commission also approved the waiver of parking fees at the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies for the Friends of Tennessee's Babies with Special Needs, a nonprofit organization that serves East Tennessee families of special needs children. The organization is holding a special event for families on Aug. 30.

City commission also held a public hearing on a requested annexation of a 15.25 acre property at 1274 Johns Branch Road. The city commission will consider a resolution to annex the property at a meeting in July.

The property owner wishes to develop apartments for residents and create more residential housing. The property owner also requests the annexed property to be zoned R-2 (Medium Density Residential.)