On July 17 the Butte‑Silver Bow Zoning Board of Adjustments unanimously approved Special Use Permit 25‑10 to allow T‑Mobile to collocate additional wireless antennas and related equipment on an existing monopole at 2929 Harrison Avenue, near Bush and Sampson streets. The board voted 4‑0 to approve the application with the conditions recommended by planning staff.

Planning staff told the board the proposal includes a 16‑foot vertical extension of the existing monopole and a fenced 10‑by‑15 foot ground equipment area (with a smaller equipment pad). The site is on the same parcel as the Super 8 Motel and is zoned C‑2; staff said the expansion would encroach into one or two parking spaces in the motel’s northwest parking lot but would not reduce parking “below what is functionally required” if the applicant coordinates with the motel and provides a restriping/site‑plan verification.

Joella, planner for the county, said the proposal must satisfy the special‑use criteria in the Butte‑Silver Bow Municipal Code and that planning staff located a prior expansion permit (Permit 22‑3) for the same monopole. Staff recommended conditions of approval that include: FAA approval prior to building permit issuance if required; acquisition of required building permits and electrical approvals before connecting power; maintaining existing screening and landscaping; coordination with the Super 8 Motel to confirm parking counts and striping consistent with section 17‑4900 (off‑street parking); and future zoning board review for any further expansion.

A T‑Mobile representative told the board the company preferred collocation on existing infrastructure “to minimally impact visual impacts” and said the vendor had counted about 70–74 existing parking spaces during a site visit. The representative also said an FAA review is standard and that, based on the site location, additional tower lighting is not expected but the company will comply with any FAA determinations.

Board members who spoke described the project as a minor impact that uses existing infrastructure. Steven Ko, chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustments, said the proposal “doesn’t seem too obtrusive” and moved to approve the permit with the staff conditions; the motion was seconded and passed 4‑0.

The planning office will send the applicant a letter with the conditions of approval and next steps, including required permits and the coordination verification with the Super 8 motel.