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Commission approves 65-foot wireless monopole conditional use permit in Sandia Park; fire access to be coordinated
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Summary
The commission approved a conditional use permit for a 65‑foot wireless monopole (Sun State Towers/Verizon) near NM‑344, finding it meets SLDC design standards; staff and applicant will coordinate with county fire to ensure access and future collocation is accommodated.
The Santa Fe County Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a 65‑foot wireless communications monopole located at 1728 NM‑344 in Sandia Park (case 25‑5240). Marie Martinez, building and development review specialist, said staff found the application meets the Sustainable Land Development Code standards for siting, design, safety and minimized visual impacts and that the hearing officer recommended approval with conditions.
Scott Quinn, agent for the tower owner/developer (Pinnacle Consulting / Sun State Towers, on behalf of Verizon), said the monopole was sized at 65 feet to balance coverage, public‑safety (E‑911) needs and visual impacts; he said the tower is structurally designed to accept additional carriers and that an environmental assessment was provided to address federal and other regulatory concerns. Quinn added the applicant prefers collocation and that future carriers may locate on the facility.
County Fire Inspector Craig Fulmer joined remotely and asked that the applicant revise the access driveway to meet county fire‑code minimums for emergency access; staff and the applicant said they will coordinate at the building‑permit stage to address turnaround and driveway standards and to ensure fire access meets code.
A motion to approve the CUP with staff‑recommended conditions passed by voice vote; staff will record the decision and manage conditions including collocation accommodation, visual mitigation and required building‑permit coordination.
