County staff report surge in mobile tower upgrades; state statute limits local review

Dunn County planning staff reported at the Aug. 20 meeting that mobile wireless facility activity is elevated, with eight facility upgrades and one new tower permit issued in the recent period and additional applications on the desk. Planning staff told the committee that the county no longer has the same level of zoning discretion for mobile tower siting as in the past: “State statute changed, and we are, actually really limited on our time frame to even turn around reviews now in Mobile Tower. So we can't prohibit them in any zoning district. They just have to meet the statute requirements.” The staff member said that most recent permits have been equipment swaps and upgrades rather than entirely new tower construction. Committee members asked whether those cases previously came before the Board of Adjustment; staff replied that historically some requests went to the Board of Adjustment but under the new statutory framework most collocations and equipment swaps follow the streamlined statutory process and do not go to committee. The planning office said the trend is mostly equipment upgrades but noted one new tower application that moved through the statutory process. No formal committee action was required or taken during the report. The committee asked staff to continue reporting permit trends and to flag any applications that may require additional coordination with county or town officials.