ANDERSON TOWNSHIP - The township is embroiled in another dispute with a telecommunications company that wants to build a monopole tower on land zoned residential.

        Two years ago, the township lost a court battle when it tried to get AirTouch and GTE Wireless to abide by residential zoning requirements before they build towers along I-275. The sites are at the Five Mile Road and U.S. 52 exits.

        The Ohio Supreme Court refused to hear the case after common pleas and appellate courts ruled that the companies did not have to abide by the zoning code, because they were classified as public utilities by entering an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation.

        The latest dispute involves property at Clough Pike and Wolfangle Road owned by the Clough United Methodist Church, where Cincinnati Bell Wireless wants to build a 75-foot monopole. Township trustees have protested.

        “If a monopole is 75 to 150 feet tall, it has be 500 feet from the property line,” said Steve Sievers, assistant director of township development services. “Any tower below 75 feet has to be located 250 feet from the property line.”

        He said Wireless plans show that the tower will be built less than 100 feet from the property line.

        “We have had a dispute with this company before concerning the same site,” said Trustee Russ Jackson. “The company wanted to build a 185-foot tower in 1996. The discussions with the company then led to establishing our setback requirements. The company did not go through with its plans then.”

        Tressie Long, spokeswoman for Cincinnati Bell Wireless, said the company plans to take the issue before the township board of zoning appeals.

        “Usually we negotiate with the landlord first, which is what we have done,” she said. “Different townships and municipalities have different zoning requirements. We will let the board decide if we can get the variance we need. If not, we will work with what the township wants.”

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