Board of Commissioners, October 20, 2026
Votes on Rezoning for multi-tenant retail at Highway 81 and Cowan Road, 5-0
What happened
Newton County Board of Commissioners approved, 3-2, a settlement with T-Mobile South and GST Capital Partners allowing a 175-foot cell tower (reduced from 195 feet) at Highway 81 and Cowan Road in exchange for dismissal of attorney fee and damage claims.
- Jurisdiction
- Newton County, GA
- Governing body
- Final authority
- Date
- October 20, 2026
- Decisions
- 12 zoning decisions
- Outcome
- Tabled, 5-0
Free sample: decision 1 of 12
Settlement with T-Mobile/GST for cell tower at Highway 81 and Cowan Road
The board approved a settlement of T-Mobile South et al. v. Newton County. The case arose after the board denied, in April, a conditional use permit for a 195-foot cell tower on R-2 zoned property at Highway 81 and Cowan Road. The settlement allows a 175-foot tower, and all claims for attorney fees and damages will be withdrawn. Vote 3-2; Commissioner Henderson and one other member opposed.
- tower height reduced to 175 feet
- claims for attorney fees and damages withdrawn
The other decisions are listed below by title. The full write-up, verbatim conditions, and the audio at each vote are in Pro.
Meeting Summary
Newton County Board of Commissioners approved, 3-2, a settlement with T-Mobile South and GST Capital Partners allowing a 175-foot cell tower (reduced from 195 feet) at Highway 81 and Cowan Road in exchange for dismissal of attorney fee and damage claims.
Key Decisions (12)
Settlement with T-Mobile/GST for cell tower at Highway 81 and Cowan Road
No objection to Covington annexation of R5 Holdings property at Highway 36 and Piper Road
Rezoning for multi-tenant retail at Highway 81 and Cowan Road
UDO update adoption tabled
Zoning, FLU and overlay map ordinance tabled
10-foot trail easement to Square and Neely Farms LLC
$5 million GEFA grant for Cornish Creek plant expansion
Crack sealing contract for Dixie Road and SR 213
GDOT traffic monitoring pilot
Fund juvenile court position through December 31
Fisher and Phillips invoice not paid
Break the Cycle grant
Zoning Changes (1)
Development Activity (3)
175-foot cell tower at Highway 81 and Cowan Road
Infrastructure
Multi-tenant retail building at Highway 81 and Cowan Road
Commercial
R5 Holdings commercial expansion at Highway 36 and Piper Road
Commercial
Market Signals (3)
Infrastructure
Residents report that the Highway 36 corridor near Piper Road…
Sentiment
The rezoning moratorium pending UDO adoption has lasted about 18…
Infrastructure
A $5 million grant supports the Cornish Creek water plant…
Who Spoke (14)
On the record: the chair, 2 commissioners, 3 staff members, 2 attorneys, and 3 members of the public.
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