Planning commission approves four 60-meter MET towers near Aubrey cliffs over wildlife objections

The Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 29 approved CUP 24-048, allowing four 60-meter meteorological (MET) towers on a portion of the Big Boquias Ranch owned by the Navajo Nation. The towers, proposed by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and Pacific Wind Development (Avangrid affiliate), will be unlit and operate up to five years to collect data for potential future wind development. The motion passed with eight votes in favor and one opposed.

The issue drew extended discussion over wildlife and visual impacts. Senior planner Zach Schwartz told commissioners the towers would be approximately 197 feet tall (199 feet if lightning rods are installed) and therefore below the 200-foot threshold that would require FAA obstruction lighting. Schwartz said the applicant’s view-shed modeling shows limited visibility from populated areas but flagged possible visibility to several Hualapai home sites and raised the proximity of the project area to wildlife-designated areas including an Audubon Important Bird Area, an Arizona…