An application

for a cell phone tower on Ga. Highway 74 has been withdrawn in the face

of neighborhood opposition.

Sprint Communications

had asked for exceptions to the rules governing towers so it could erect

a tower on the grounds of New Hope Baptist Church South, on Hwy. 74 just

south of the Starr's Mill school complex.

The proposed

tower would have been 380 feet closer to a home and nine tenths of a mile

closer to another tower than the law allows.

Nancy Meyer's

home is 620 feet from the tower site and, when she heard about plans for

the tower, said she was thinking of hiring a lawyer.

Her neighbors

in Brechin Park subdivision, next door to the church, launched a petition

drive.

In response

to the neighborhood actions, church business administrator Harold Reed

said the church had no intention of allowing the tower on church land

if neighbors were opposed.

"When

we were approached by Sprint, we saw it as a way for us to provide a community

service," he said. But, "If the community doesn't want it, that's

fine with us."

Fayette zoning

administrator Kathy Zeitler confirmed this week that the application had

been withdrawn.

"The church

withdrew its consent," she said.