By Bill Brubaker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 11:56 AM

In cell phone speak, Sprint Nextel Corp. hit a dead spot last night in its bid to build a 106-foot cellular tower -- disguised as an agricultural silo -- near the village of Philomont in rural western Loudoun County.

The county's nine-member Planning Commission voted 7-0 to send Sprint Nextel's proposal back for more study and debate.

In doing so, the commission rebuffed the recommendation of its own staff, which had suggested the commission and the Board of Supervisors approve the tower on a 10,000-square-foot piece of pasture land off Watermill Road.

Sprint Nextel representatives said the tower would improve cell phone service in western Loudoun, where there are coverage gaps.

But about 20 residents of the area, speaking at a hearing that ended at 12:01 a.m. today, said the tower near historic Snickersville Turnpike would be an eyesore and lower property values.

"It'll be a monster," said Richard L. Corrigan of Purcellville.

Cell phone service is spotty in some areas of western Loudoun. The new Sprint Nextel tower would "greatly enhance wireless services in the areas of Philomont, Purcellville and Snickersville Turnpike," company spokeswoman Laura Porter said.

Opponents of the project said Sprint Nextel could easily attach its antennas to a 100-foot flag pole -- already used by Verizon Communications Inc. -- at the Philomont fire station.

"Residents of this area believe that the Philomont location, with an existing tasteful 'flag pole' tower, should be seriously explored -- raising the height of the existing tower or constructing a second one," Corrigan said before the hearing.

Sprint Nextel wasn't the only cellular tower applicant that got an earful of static at the hearing: A proposal by Arlington-based Community Wireless Structures to build four towers in Loudoun also got tabled for more discussion.

"Western Loudoun is a very special place," commission member Nancy Hsu (Blue Ridge) said. "Visual impact is an important issue."