The Problem
Milestone Towers and Verizon are proposing to build a 165-foot cell phone tower (equivalent to a 16-story building) surrounded by a chainlink-fenced compound on the historic property of Shiloh Baptist Church at 10704 Gunston Road on Mason Neck in Lorton, Virginia. This industrial telecommunications facility would be constructed:

• Within yards of residential homes
• Immediately adjacent to Gunston Hall, George Mason's National Historic Landmark home
• Directly on historically significant property - Shiloh Baptist Church was founded in 1869 by freed slaves and represents important African American heritage Historical Shiloh Baptist Church Senate Resolution
• In an R-E (Residential-Estate) zoning district specifically designated by the county to maintain "open and rural character"

Why This Tower Must Be Stopped or Relocated

It Violates the Character of Our Zoning: The proposed Mason Neck location is zoned R-E (Residential-Estate) to preserve "open and rural character" with large lots and low-density development. The maximum building height allowed here is 35-40 feet. A 165-foot tower is nearly five times taller than anything else permitted in this zoning district (and Milestone Towers has explained that they can unilaterally decide to extend the tower to 185-feet tall to add additional carriers without any additional zoning approvals if they choose to do so) which fundamentally contradicts the rural, estate-home character the zoning was designed to protect. 

It Destroys the Historic Viewshed: George Mason, the "Father of the Bill of Rights," lived at Gunston Hall. This National Historic Landmark deserves protection from a 165-foot industrial structure in the center of a 100-foot by 100-foot compound with 50-foot by 50-foot chainlink-fence, a back-up generator, and other cluttered ground equipment, a structure that will tower over the entrance of this historic site. The National Historic Preservation Act requires review of impacts to historic properties - a process that must be rigorously followed here.

It Will Damage Property Values Multiple studies show that cell towers reduce nearby property values by up to 20%. Our homes are our largest investments, and this tower threatens our financial security with no compensation to affected homeowners.

Better Alternatives Exist

Before approving this location, Fairfax County must require proof that:

• Existing towers in the area cannot be upgraded or expanded
• Less intrusive alternatives like Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) are not viable
• Other locations farther from homes were thoroughly evaluated

What We're Asking

We call on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Mount Vernon District Supervisor to: 

• DENY the Special Use Permit for this cell tower at this location
• Require a comprehensive alternatives analysis showing why existing towers cannot be used
• Protect our historic resources by enforcing Section 106 review under the National Historic Preservation Act
• Demand relocation to a site that does not impact residential neighborhoods

Timeline
Town Hall Meeting: Occured February 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Planning Commission & Board of Supervisors Hearings: To be scheduled

We Need Your Voice
Better cell coverage is important - but not at the expense of our homes, property values, and irreplaceable historic landmarks. There are better locations for this tower that don't threaten residential neighborhoods or our shared heritage. 

Sign this petition to tell Fairfax County: Protect our community and our history. Deny or relocate this cell tower.

Every signature matters! Share this petition with your neighbors, friends, and anyone who cares about preserving historic Mason Neck and protecting residential communities from inappropriate industrial development.

Below is a simulated photo of how the tower and ground compound might look from the entrance to Gunston Hall:

Historical Marker for proposed build site, Shiloh Baptist Church: