Planning Commission backs conditional use permit for communications tower at Shady Creek Road

The Planning Commission recommended approval of a conditional use permit for a communications tower sited at the end of Shady Creek Road after staff presented engineering documentation that altered safety recommendations.

Planning staff explained the applicant provided a plan showing a reduced fall zone; under a communications-tower ordinance staff cited, that engineering demonstration allowed the building official and fire marshal to amend their earlier recommendation and support approval. "There was an ordinance, I can't quote it right off, that we had found in the communications tower that stated that if an engineer set a plan show that it's going to fall in a smaller fall area, that the building official and or city council could approve," a staff member said.

Applicant Hill Bromley spoke at the mic, identified himself and said he runs cattle on the parcel, and expressed reluctance to change zoning for his entire property. Commissioners discussed that some parcels in the area are dual zoned and that cleaning up dual zoning might be appropriate in a separate action.

A motion to approve the CUP carried in roll-call vote. The approval followed amended recommendations by the fire marshal and building inspectors contingent on the engineer's fall-zone plan and will be forwarded to city council if required by local procedure.