After technical review, board approves 195‑ft wireless tower permit with caveats

The Mohave County Board of Supervisors approved a special use permit for a 195‑foot wireless communications tower in the Val Vista/Antares area after hearing an independent technical review of microwave backhaul feasibility.

County consultant Christian told the board that coverage in the Antares area is poor and would benefit from a new tower, but that microwave backhaul links require an essentially clear line of sight and an unobstructed Fresnel (franal) zone. He compared the originally proposed, more distant tower site (in the transcript described as the outlying/Hackberry site) with an alternative near the Antares fire station. Christian said the outlying site offers a clearer, more comfortable microwave link, while the fire‑station tower was marginal—he described several short infringements of the Fresnel zone and called the fire‑station option "not ideal but could work" if antenna height could be increased a few feet.

Board members debated whether to deny the original application and require the applicant to pursue the alternative site; the chair paused the item for additional language and called an executive session to receive legal advice. After returning from executive session the board voted to approve the application as presented. The county staff earlier confirmed there is poor coverage in the area and presented alternatives (including fiber and use of an existing tower) but emphasized that any alternative would require a separate process if the board wanted the applicant to pursue it.

What happens next: the applicant may proceed under the permit conditions; staff noted that modest increases in antenna height at either end of the link would materially improve microwave reliability and that any changes above the zoning threshold would require additional approvals.