Board approves conditional-use permit for 199-foot communications tower in Salome with conditions to guard against abandonment
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Summary
La Paz County approved a conditional-use permit on Aug. 18 for a 199-foot communications tower in Salome, contingent on a provider letter confirming Verizon’s relocation to the new structure and on decommissioning language to prevent abandoned towers.
The La Paz County Board of Supervisors approved a conditional-use permit (CUP 2025‑07) on Aug. 18 for a proposed 199-foot wireless communications tower on a C2-zoned parcel near Salome, after hearing from the applicant’s agent and county planning staff and discussing conditions to reduce the risk of unused or abandoned towers.
Applicant and purpose: Pinnacle Consulting presented the application on behalf of Verizon; agent Logan Williams said the new tower is intended to receive existing Verizon equipment and allow capacity for future equipment and microwave dishes to improve coverage and internet-backhaul capacity along U.S. 60 and nearby corridors. Scott Quinn, formerly with Verizon and now with Pinnacle Consulting, described the site as a relocation of Verizon facilities to a more expandable structure and noted the new tower would support broadband initiatives and additional microwave links.
Public process and staff recommendation: Tiffany of Community Development reported notices were posted as required, no public objections were received, and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval by unanimous vote at its Aug. 7 meeting.
Supervisory concerns and conditions: Supervisors said they support improved coverage but expressed past concerns about towers left in place after tenants relocate or fail to materialize. Supervisor Holly Erwin asked what would happen to the existing tower if Verizon relocates; the applicant said the existing facility is owned by American Tower (a tower-company landlord) and may remain in service for other carriers but that Verizon planned to transfer its equipment to the new structure. To address supervisors’ concerns, the board approved the CUP with two added stipulations: the applicant must provide a letter from the provider (Verizon) confirming the relocation/tenant intent, and the approval will include language mirroring conditions used in a prior tower approval requiring decommissioning or removal of abandoned or unused facilities (the board asked staff to apply the same demolition/abatement timeline and permit-enforcement language used on the prior case).
Timing and enforcement: Board members also discussed construction timelines. County staff said building permits and state/local building-code timelines govern start of construction and that standard permit timelines require activity within statutory timeframes; supervisors asked that staff enforce those timelines (for example, building permits typically require commencement within a specified period and can expire) and to require reapplication if construction does not begin within the permitted timeframe.
Vote and outcome: the board made and seconded a motion to approve CUP 2025‑07 with the two stipulations described; the motion carried by voice vote.
Ending: county staff will draft the formal permit conditions to reflect the board’s stipulations (provider-letter requirement and decommissioning language) and will record them in the permit file prior to issuance of any building permit.
