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ASU cleared for radio‑astronomy antennas on two ranch parcels near Meteor Crater and I‑40; commission approves CUP
Summary
The commission approved a conditional use permit for Arizona State University to install an array of five‑foot radio antennas on private ranch land near Meteor Crater and a relay tower near I‑40 to support space‑weather research and student training.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit on May 28 for Arizona State University to install radio astronomy equipment on two privately owned ranch parcels east of Twin Arrows: a cluster of small (five‑foot) antennas near Meteor Crater and a separate lattice relay tower and equipment pad near I‑40 and the BNSF railroad right‑of‑way.
Staff said the principal site would host sixty‑eight five‑foot receiving elements in a fenced, wildlife‑compatible enclosure, with a modified shipping container to house associated electronics; a small lattice relay tower is proposed on a second parcel near the interstate. ASU representative Judd Bowman said the installations would be unmanned and operated remotely from Tempe and that the array will be used to monitor space weather and train students.
Staff reviewed visibility and found limited visual impacts: the Meteor Crater site sits beyond nearby road corridors and would mostly be screened from public vantage points, and the I‑40 relay tower would stand near existing power lines and would not substantially change visual character from the interstate. The applicant committed to earth‑tone painting of equipment enclosures and wildlife‑friendly fencing.
Why it matters: the project supports university research and regional scientific infrastructure on private land while triggering the county’s utility/telecommunications conditional use permit process because of the number of antennas and relay towers.
Commission action: staff recommended approval with conditions; the commission approved the CUP following staff presentation and a short applicant comment.
