Board denies 195-foot wireless tower proposal in Dolan Springs after residents object
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Summary
The Board denied a rezoning and special-use request for a proposed 195-foot wireless telecommunications tower in the Dolan Springs area after residents and the Planning & Zoning Commission raised concerns about visual impact, fire risk and whether the area needs the coverage claimed by the applicant.
The Mohave County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously April 7 to deny a special-use permit and rezone request for a 195-foot wireless telecommunications tower proposed near Dolan Springs.
Residents from the Dolan Springs vicinity told the board that the tower — sited on private land several miles from the nearest existing cell site — would be an unwelcome visual intrusion and could harm property values and dark-sky character. "This area is cherished for its pristine and natural beauty, tranquility, and its incredible dark night skies," resident Emily Geisler told the board during the public hearing, and she urged the supervisors to reject the proposal.
Applicant representatives from Vertical Bridge said the tower was requested by a carrier (Verizon) to expand coverage north and east of Dolan Springs, including into federal lands; they submitted coverage maps and said the taller monopole would allow multiple carriers to co-locate and avoid future additional towers. The applicant said the facility would include a diesel generator that cycles once a week for testing and that vertical-mast landscaping or camouflage options could be explored.
County legal staff briefed supervisors on legal limits under the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, noting that local governments cannot deny wireless permits based on radio-frequency emissions or generalized health concerns and that decisions need to be supported by permissible zoning grounds. Still, supervisors said the record showed strong neighborhood opposition and planning commissioners had recommended denial. Supervisor Martin said residents reported adequate service in the area and that the applicant had not shown a clear local need for the tower. "If the residents that live there say they don't have a problem with their current service ... I don't understand how you can ask to put a tower up," he said.
The board voted to deny the special-use permit and rezone request; the Planning and Zoning Commission had earlier recommended denial by unanimous vote.
Why it matters: Decisions on wireless infrastructure balance carrier coverage needs, federal law that limits denial grounds and local land-use concerns such as visual impact, fire risk and property values. This decision preserves current zoning protections in the affected neighborhood.
What's next: The applicant may pursue alternative sites, further community outreach, stealth/landscaping options, or federal land options if private sites remain unavailable; legal counsel noted courts have reversed denials in other places when findings were preempted by federal law, so local staff will incorporate that guidance in future applications.
