Zoning board approves Water District 7 special permit for future 200-foot tower and operations campus

The West Consolidated Zoning Board voted to approve a special permit for Water District 7 to construct a future approximately 200‑foot elevated water tower, an 18,000‑square‑foot administration and operations building, and an outdoor storage and truck parking area on a 35‑acre site along Four Corners Road.

Planning staff recommended approval after reviewing a revised landscape plan, traffic and stormwater studies, and site design. Planner Diane Wickland told the board the project includes screening, setbacks and a detention basin and that public works had reviewed and accepted the traffic and stormwater analyses. She said the district plans an on‑site septic system for the building and that special permits have no fixed term.

The proposal, submitted as application W26554 (SPMC 165304), calls for a water storage tank in the 1–2 million gallon range and an elevated structure roughly 200 feet tall. Water District 7 representatives and staff said the tower primarily would add fireflow capacity, stabilize system pressures and provide emergency storage as the district accommodates rapid residential growth in the area. "When we hear from people wanting water service, the next follow‑up question is, 'Where's the nearest fire hydrant?'" said Alan Sutire of Water District 7. He said rapid nearby growth — about 1,000 homes platted or soon to be platted within roughly 2 miles of the site — is driving the need for additional storage and distribution capacity.

Board members pressed project staff and consultants about several local concerns. Commissioner Terry Atwell and other members questioned traffic safety at the site entrances and the condition of roadside ditches, and raised repeated local flooding concerns. Civil engineer Brett Donner said the design routes 100% of the site's stormwater to a dry detention basin and that controlled discharge will prevent added downstream impacts: "We are routing 100% of our site's storm water to that basin and we are controlling the level of discharge so that it doesn't have any impacts to a downstream waterway," he said. Staff also noted the traffic study was accepted by public works and did not recommend road improvements for this proposal.

Board members asked about lighting on the building and the tower. Project architect Rodney Ranenberger said building and parking fixtures will be shielded and downward‑facing; he and other consultants said any lighting will comply with local building codes. The team also said the tower will carry FAA‑required strobe lighting near the top to meet aviation safety requirements.

District officials described a staged timeline: the administration/operations facility could be built relatively soon if the board of directors allocates funds, while the elevated storage tank has a longer, roughly five‑to‑10‑year horizon tied to growth. Sutire said the district has added capacity elsewhere in recent years but expects the new tank will be needed as housing plats come online.

Roger Spears moved to approve the special permit, including staff recommendations, and to delete stipulations numbered 6, 7 and 10 as completed; Bob Pollson seconded. The roll-call vote was: Donna Gatsman — yes; John Degr — yes; Bob Pollson — yes; Terry Atwell — abstain; Roger Spears — yes; Jeff Huff — yes. The motion passed with five votes in favor and one abstention. The application will be considered by the Board of County Commissioners on May 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the county administration building, 111 South Cherry, where county commissioners will take final action.

The board closed public comment (no speakers signed up), thanked members and staff for service and adjourned. The meeting packet and staff report list the detailed stipulations and engineering documents referenced by staff for review.