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Commission recommends variance for Rattlesnake Bend 300-foot cell tower to address Highway 220 coverage gap
Summary
The commission recommended approval to the BOCC for a variance (VC25-03) to allow a 300-foot cell tower with engineer-certified 'breakpoint' design north of Highway 220 to improve emergency and traveler coverage along the corridor; staff and YDOT reported no objections in pre-application outreach.
The Natrona County Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 19, 2025, voted to recommend approval to the Board of County Commissioners for a variance request (VC25-03) to locate a 300-foot wireless communications tower in the Rattlesnake Bend area north of Highway 220.
Staff presented the application by Rocky Mountain Towers, which stated the tower is needed to provide continuous in-car and on-street coverage along a stretch of Highway 220 that currently lacks reliable cellular service. Staff described the parcel (approximately 41 acres, in the Ranching, Agriculture and Mining district) and noted surrounding ownership by BLM and state land. Staff also summarized the variance criteria in the 2022 zoning resolution, explained the industry standard setback rationale and the local requirement (height plus 100%), and said the applicant submitted engineer-signed structural plans using 'breakpoint' technology to limit a collapse fall zone.
Applicant Shelly Neese of Rocky Mountain Towers testified that the company could not find a site fully compliant with the county’s setback standards within a reasonable search radius, that the proposed design includes a certified weak point to contain a collapse within a small radius, and that carriers (Verizon as the anchor tenant) and the county’s outreach partners (including YDOT) had no outstanding concerns. The applicant provided construction-cost estimates and said the tower is designed for multiple carriers to promote colocation and long-term viability.
Public comment included brief in‑support remarks from audience members; no opposition was presented. Commissioners discussed engineered safety measures, YDOT temporary access comments, and that BOCC policy allows variance consideration when a licensed engineer certifies that a tower’s collapse would not threaten adjacent property owners. The commission found the variance met general standards for approval and voted to recommend the application to the Board of County Commissioners.
What happens next: The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final decision and to coordinate any needed permits or FAA coordination.
