County staff backs conditional use permit for 120-foot monopole near NM-14; neighbors contest visibility and alternatives

Pinnacle Consulting and Sun State Towers sought a conditional-use permit to install a 120-foot wireless monopole in a 40-by-40-foot compound near New Mexico 14 to close a multi-mile coverage gap that county staff and applicant representatives said hampers in-vehicle service and emergency communications along the corridor.

John Lovato, Building Development Services Supervisor, said the proposed facility would sit on a ~6.24-acre leased area, would be painted a tan adobe finish and would be engineered to meet FCC and county requirements; staff reviewed the SLDC design standards and recommended approval with conditions. Lovato corrected a typographical error in staff materials clarifying the applicable rural-residential height limit is 20 feet for typical structures but noted telecommunications are subject to specific SLDC provisions and that the applicant seeks a taller, 120-foot monopole as a conditional use.

Craig Morgan of Pinnacle Consulting said Sun State Towers is the lessee and that Verizon Wireless would be the initial carrier; Stephen (Steve) Kennedy (RF engineer) explained the technical justification: the site would address large coverage gaps of several miles along NM-14, improve in-vehicle and indoor service for residents and travelers, and support emergency communications. Kennedy presented crowd-sourced signal maps showing poor coverage (lots of “red” areas) and a propagation model indicating the proposed tower would create a dominant server for the corridor.

Opponents said the chosen location is highly visible from the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway and nearby pullouts and homes; they urged the county and applicant to locate the facility in a less conspicuous spot and questioned whether alternative sites were fully explored. Neighbors raised concerns about aesthetics, potential impacts on wildlife and children's health, road maintenance for the private access, and the precedent of industrial infrastructure near a scenic corridor. Several speakers also said other providers had proposed different tower locations in past efforts.

Supporters said the tower would provide reliable cellular service for residents — including low-income households and medically vulnerable people — and for travelers who currently face “dead zones” on the highway. One proponent submitted a list of signatures supporting the tower and said area residents rely on cell connectivity for transportation, medical care and emergency calls.

Lovato and applicant representatives noted required environmental and historic-preservation reviews (including SHPO and FCC Section 106 review) and said final engineering and environmental studies would be submitted prior to final approval. County staff told the hearing officer they would correct administrative typos in their report and requested that the hearing officer memorialize findings and conclusions in a recommended order. Hearing Officer Abare said he would prepare a recommended order within 15 business days.

No final county decision was made at the hearing; the matter may proceed to the Santa Fe County Planning Commission.