Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Telecom Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge denial of proposed 190‑foot ‘Atlas’ tower as borough refines a cell‑tower ordinance
Summary
Two residents told the planning commission they oppose an Atlas Towers application for a 190-foot cell tower, citing visual impacts, inadequate buffering and safety questions. The assembly is simultaneously reviewing a comprehensive communication‑equipment ordinance; staff said the ordinance had its fifth public hearing and remains under revision.
Several residents at the Jan. 20 Haines Borough Planning Commission meeting urged the commission to deny a land‑use permit for an Atlas Towers cell tower proposal, while borough staff and the assembly continue to work on a comprehensive communication-equipment ordinance.
Public commenter Susan Waterhouse asked the commission to deny the Atlas Tower application, arguing a 190‑foot structure would permanently change Haines’ skyline and the view from her home. "It's ugly," she said, listing visual‑impact and proximity concerns and noting a 2024 petition opposing towers in town. Taylor Cowen, who said he and his wife own property immediately behind the proposed tower site, told commissioners the application did not meet permit buffering and visual-minimization conditions and said he feared the tower would be within about 600 feet of his residence and depress property values.
Assembly liaison and staff reported the assembly has been revising a communication‑equipment ordinance and zoning‑use chart and that the item had reached a fifth public hearing. The liaison said the assembly and committees had been fine‑tuning language about which zones would allow what tower heights; the revised ordinance packet (assembly packet 2507715) was expected to be published for the upcoming assembly meeting.
Staff and commissioners noted that code in force for tonight’s hearing is the existing code, not the yet‑to‑be‑adopted ordinance; commission members said the assembly’s ordinance work is intended to clarify where and how tall towers may be allowed in the future. Several commissioners encouraged residents to submit comments to the assembly packet and noted continued public hearings before final action.
No formal planning-commission action on the Atlas Tower application is recorded in the segments provided; commissioners heard public comment and staff updates and were advised to rely on current code for any permit decisions during this meeting.
