Verizon Wireless proposes new cell tower in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — In 2018, we live on our phones, but to use them to their peak performance, they require good cell service.

Verizon Wireless has identified a community in Wilmington it says would benefit from improved coverage. The company, along with Milestone Communications, is proposing a new cell tower at the Veterans Park Sports Complex.

“It would be fantastic to not have to worry. We’ll go over there and sit and watch games sometimes. It would be nice to not have to worry about dropped service,” resident Andre Shy said.

The area the new tower would serve includes Veterans Park, three schools and multiple neighborhoods. Shy lives in one of those neighborhoods, Heritage Woods off of Halyburton Memorial Parkway.

He says he and his family rely on cell phones more than ever and it would be great if the service improved.

“Hopefully, the service will get much better, being that I think more people are using cell phones,” Shy said. “We don’t have a home phone. We have four lines: my wife’s number, my number, and the kids’ number. Hopefully, it will work out for us.”

The cell tower would require a special use permit, due to how the area is zoned.

The New Hanover County Planning Board will consider the permit at its June 7th meeting. If it approves the plan, it would go on to New Hanover County Commissioners.

If all goes well with the proposal and permitting process, the tower would be completed this fall or winter, according to David Goldsmith of Milestone Communications.

More information about the proposal can be found here.