By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The possibility of a cell phone tower in Ocean Pines inches closer as a contractor scopes out potential sites for the build to alleviate abysmal and unsafe reception.

At a May 24 Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors meeting, Tim Robinson, the neighborhood’s police chief, said his team is working with Milestone Towers to consider possible sites for a structure to address poor cell phone reception in the community. Based in Reston, Virginia, the company has built similar towers at three Wicomico County high schools.

“The point we’re at right now is we are looking at locations here that are Ocean Pines property,” Robinson said. “[Milestone Towers] is studying these locations. I am waiting for the official proposal that this is where we want to build, on this piece of property.”

The chief assured that the process would be transparent. He added that when a location is selected as the most viable, representatives from Milestone Towers will likely attend a public board meeting to answer any questions community members may have.

The cell phone tower project has been a hot topic among community members. Robinson first brought up the initiative in September 2024, when he said at a board of directors meeting that cell phone reception is poor in the wooded neighborhood, particularly during congested holiday weekends. This issue is especially alarming if someone has to dial 911 in an emergency and is unable to reach a dispatcher. As such, the chief has spent the last several months investigating the possibility of constructing a tower to remedy the safety hazard.

Robinson indicated how the cell phone tower arrangement with a contractor would work in November. If a contract is signed, the chief said at the time, Milestone Towers would put up the structure at their expense, ensuring all required permits are secured.

“If it is all good, once we sign the contract, [Milestone Towers] will pay a one-time fee prior to building the tower, plus it will be a monthly 40% revenue share for Ocean Pines,” Robinson said last year.

The chief also maintained that, based on the company’s work with Wicomico County, the structure’s aesthetic appearance could be disguised, meaning it may not resemble a cell phone tower, and instead uphold the community’s natural look.

“I have stressed to [Milestone Towers] that whatever we do, it stays in line with making sure Ocean Pines stays as beautiful as possible,” Robinson said.

The project has been met with some pushback from OPA residents. During public comments at a January board meeting, citizen Dave Tanner criticized the potential cell tower, calling the move unnecessary as the community is surrounded by coverage just outside its boundaries, including a tower near the Ocean Pines North Gate.

Tanner argued that reception issues are the responsibility of the consumer to address. Switching carriers, he said, is how customers should address dissatisfaction with service, rather than a community cell tower. The resident added that the structure would degrade property values.

Following Tanner’s remarks, the board intervened, stating that there was no concrete plan to build a tower. Robinson later said, in response to a clarification inquiry, that OPA was still in the discussion stage of what was possible for the community.

At the May 24 meeting, the police chief stated the community is working with Milestone Towers on the initiative and is in the preliminary phase of studying potential properties. Robinson’s team will provide updates to residents as they come.