Pennington County planning commission continues T‑Mobile lease expansion after residents raise road‑damage and notice concerns

The Pennington County Planning Commission on July 14 voted to continue review of a T‑Mobile request to expand the leased area at an existing telecommunications facility at 13100 Big Bend Road until the commission’s July 28 meeting so the applicant can attend and answer residents’ questions. Megan Talmich, planner for Pennington County, said the request would expand the leased ground area and add new equipment and a shelter; she described the tower itself as unchanged except for standard equipment upgrades. Why it matters: Neighbors said previous deliveries to the site damaged Big Bend Road and private yards, and they asked for a commitment that any future construction would coordinate with the Big Bend Road District and address property‑damage responsibility. Those concerns are operational and relate to access and public‑works impacts rather than zoning substance, and residents urged the county to require on‑site coordination before work begins. Megan Talmich, the county planner, described the project as an expansion of…