Commission recommends approval of MET tower permit for Winding Canyon project despite public opposition

The Navajo County Planning and Zoning Commission voted on Dec. 16 to recommend approval of a special use permit (SUP25-004) for a 272-foot meteorological monitoring tower on 0.7479 acres of a 2,761.22-acre parcel (APN 111-07-003A) owned by Aztec Land and Cattle Company, staff said.

Catherine, a planner with county staff, presented the application and said the MET tower would collect meteorological data to inform whether wind energy development might be feasible. She told commissioners the tower would include guy wires, a 1-to-2-meter lightning rod and is expected to operate for up to seven years, and that staff recommended approval subject to 17 conditions.

Lloyd Johnson, a candidate for state senate who gave the only in-person public comment, urged commissioners to reject the broader development the tower could enable. "Wind turbines have got a history around the world of creating havoc with animals," Johnson said, raising concerns about horses, poultry and cattle and warning turbines could harm tourism and cause fires that local rural fire departments could not fight.

The applicant's agent, Kevin Gulley of EDP Renewables, identified himself as the project's manager and offered to answer technical questions about the MET tower application. Gulley said the application before the commission was limited to a weather station and to data collection.

Vice Chair Smith asked whether the seven-year operational life could be extended. Cody, a county staff member, said Condition 13 would require the applicant to remove the tower and any accessories within six months after the tower ceased being used and described the county's time-extension process for special-use permits (administrative extensions up to 90 days; longer extensions return to the commission and Board of Supervisors). Staff also said it has created a GIS mapping and a departmental calendar to track permitted MET towers and follow up on removals.

Commissioners who spoke emphasized that approval of the MET tower does not grant any rights for a future wind farm. "This is functionally a weather station to study wind conditions within the area," one commissioner said, adding that any proposed wind-energy development would require a separate, rigorous public process and permitting effort.

Vice Chair Smith moved to recommend the SUP application to the Board of Supervisors and Jack seconded the motion. The commission approved the recommendation on voice vote; the record shows Commissioner Rodgers opposed the recommendation.

Next steps: The Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation will be transmitted to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors, which will hold a separate hearing and make the final decision on the permit and any subsequent project proposals.