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Planning commission backs recommendation to lease Beluga cell site to GCI after clarifying rent
Summary
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission voted to forward a recommendation to the assembly to authorize a communications-site lease with GCI in Beluga; commissioners clarified that the intended monthly rent is $2,000 (a packet clerical error showed $22,000) and discussed borough rights to reserve space for emergency communications equipment.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission voted April 27 to forward a recommendation to the assembly to adopt an ordinance authorizing a communications‑site lease with GCI Communications Corporation for an existing cell tower in Beluga.
The commission’s staff report said the tower had been operating under an expired land‑use permit and that converting the arrangement to a formal lease provides a more appropriate, market‑aligned revenue vehicle. The proposed lease offers an initial five‑year term with up to four additional five‑year renewal terms.
Commissioners questioned how the borough established fair‑market rent and whether the borough could retain space on the structure for its own emergency communications gear. Director Ruffner said the borough bases rent on recent comparable leases and negotiations with tenants and that the lease reserves space and terms to allow the borough to place communications equipment on the tower if needed; colocations by other providers would generate additional fees.
During discussion a clerical error in the packet was identified: a line showing monthly rent as $22,000. Staff and commissioners confirmed the correct monthly rent is $2,000 for the exclusive use described in the lease packet and said they would ask staff to correct the published materials.
The commission moved and seconded a recommendation to adopt the ordinance and approved forwarding the measure to the assembly on a roll‑call vote.
The assembly will receive the planning commission’s recommendation; the ordinance authorizing the lease will be considered by the borough assembly in its normal legislative process.
