Planning Commission approves conditional-use permit for 155-foot telecom tower near South Lindsay Circle

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Commission on March 17 approved a conditional-use permit to allow construction of a lattice telecommunications tower on privately owned land at 4075 South Lindsay Circle.

Staff recommended the permit to improve wireless and broadband coverage in the area and said the facility is designed to accommodate up to three wireless providers, with Verizon Wireless identified as the anchor tenant.

Why it matters: Borough staff said the tower is intended to enhance wireless and broadband services for residents and public-safety users in a largely undeveloped area; the decision clears the way for construction subject to conditions intended to address site cleanup and permit wording.

Rick Benedict, current planner with the Development Services Division, told the commission the applicant, New Horizons Telecom, submitted materials showing a tower sited on roughly 6.5 acres with a 100-by-100-foot lease area. "The tower will be matte gray and neutral in color and tower lighting is not proposed," Benedict said, and he recommended a condition that derelict structures be boarded and junk vehicles removed from view prior to construction.

Benedict said the development packet includes structural certifications from an Alaska-registered professional engineer, showing the design can sustain basic wind speeds and ice loading. He also noted an FAA determination found the proposed tower does not exceed obstruction standards and does not require marking or lighting for aviation safety; the site is about one mile northeast of the Butte Municipal Airport.

Sierra Larson, the applicant representing New Horizons Telecom, told the commission she had no substantive additions to staff's presentation and confirmed a staff correction during the hearing: "I did hear at one point a reference to a hundred foot tower, but he did make the correction later on." Larson said she could answer technical questions and that the tower will allow collocation by additional carriers.

Public notice produced five written comments: one in support, two neutral and two opposed. Opposition cited visual impact, concerns about low-flying aircraft and potential radiation exposure. Benedict reminded the commission that the Telecommunications Act of 1996 preempts local governments from making land-use decisions based on RF emissions and that staff's review did not evaluate environmental effects of electromagnetic radiation.

Commissioners amended two lines in the draft resolution to correct code citations and to require amendments to the conditional-use permit rather than an "administrative permit" before substantive changes. Commissioner McCabe moved the edits based on staff wording; the amendment passed without objection. Commissioner Glenn moved the main resolution, Commissioner Scoggins seconded, and the commission approved the resolution as amended with no objections recorded.

The resolution includes conditions requiring the applicant to meet setback requirements equal to the tower height, to fence and secure the equipment compound, to board and secure a derelict structure on the property and to remove junk vehicles visible from South Lindsay Circle before construction begins. The permit was approved with those conditions; the record indicates staff will make minor typographical edits to the resolution language before finalization.

Looking ahead: Staff and the applicant said additional technical clarifications — including whether 911 calls would route via the new tower — will be provided after the hearing. The applicant told commissioners she would supply details about how other carriers or roaming would work if asked.