Planning commission approves 310-foot Vertical Bridge tower; Verizon named anchor tenant

The Dickinson County Planning Commission voted April 16 to approve CUP 26-05, allowing the construction of an approximately 310-foot guyed telecommunications tower intended to improve cellular coverage in the area.

Staff explained the proposed tower must meet county setback requirements (a 1:1 fall zone) and that the Federal Communications Commission oversees many siting-related regulatory issues; staff said local authority is generally limited to structural safety and setback requirements. Staff reported no agency objections or public comments on the application at the time of the hearing and recommended approval conditioned on required FAA and FCC approvals prior to a building permit being issued.

During the hearing, commissioners discussed lighting (a full red light at the top was proposed), the presence of residences within roughly a half-mile to one mile of the site, and whether towers could use ALDS (automatic lighting detection) systems; staff said the tower lighting would be required to be on continuously unless FAA rules allow otherwise.

David Harris, a nearby resident, asked about farming and crop insurance where guy wires would be located; staff and applicants said farming can continue up to the structure and that lease language typically addresses farming around guy wires. The applicant confirmed Verizon will be the anchor tenant and that the tower is designed to support up to three carriers for co-location.

A motion to approve CUP 26-05 with staff-recommended conditions, including submission of FAA and FCC approvals before issuance of a building permit, was moved, seconded and passed by voice vote (tally not specified in the transcript).