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Council approves special‑use permit for telecommunications tower near Rawlins Sports Complex amid public questions
Summary
The council approved a special use permit allowing a lattice telecommunications tower east of Harshman Street at the Rawlins Sports Complex. The applicant and union engineer said RF exposure studies show ground‑level levels below FCC limits; council discussion focused on proximity to recreation uses and lease terms.
The Rawlins City Council voted March 4 to approve a special‑use permit for a new self‑supported telecommunications tower on city property east of Harshman Street near the Rawlins Sports Complex.
The application filed by Cynthia Van De Marques (representing SAC Wireless on behalf of Union Wireless) and accompanying technical materials were reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission, which certified the permit and sent it to council. Council discussion at the meeting focused on site selection, proximity to recreational improvements (ice rink, ball fields and an adjacent model‑airplane field), aesthetics, and required lease and insurance provisions.
An engineer speaking for the applicant said the chosen location was selected to better cover the north end of town and to replace aging equipment at a different site; he said the design allows multiple antennas to direct coverage across sectors rather than concentrating signal toward a single azimuth. That engineer and Van De Marques both said an independent maximum permissible exposure (MPE) or RF study had been done for comparable Rollins/Rawlins sites and indicated there were no ground‑level areas that exceed FCC public‑exposure limits for the proposed configuration. Van De Marques added that the tower would be fenced, locked and fitted with anti‑climb devices and that site signage will note the presence of RF transmitters.
Council members asked whether other locations were considered (including near the golf course and the school) and whether the model‑airplane field or the ice‑rink operations could be affected by the installation. City staff said those department heads received notice; no written objections were on the record, and the Planning and Zoning hearing record included a staff review. A councilmember noted the tower compound footprint would be roughly 100 by 100 feet and that the center of the tower measured about 94 feet from the concrete edge of the ice rink.
Lease and responsibilities
Staff said the final ground‑lease agreement would mirror the recently‑approved lease for the West Water Tank site (which includes vendor insurance and maintenance obligations). Council asked staff and the city attorney to confirm that the lease will require the lessee to maintain the pad area (gravel, vegetation control) and to carry adequate insurance covering property and liability.
Vote and next steps
Council approved the special‑use permit in a recorded vote (4–3). City staff will finalize the lease and bring the agreement back to council for signature and authorized execution; staff said the applicant must provide the insurance certificates and meet site‑preparation conditions before construction begins.
Community context and concerns
Multiple council members expressed a desire to balance communications coverage and future sports and recreational investments on the 50 acres the city owns near the sports complex. Council also asked staff to confirm long‑range compatibility with potential park or tournament developments. The applicant and staff said they had considered other sites and that the radiating pattern and elevation needs favored the approved location.
