Commission recommends 80-foot Blackmore tower with conditions after residents raise viewshed and easement concerns

The Natrona County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners approve conditional use permit 26-02, an application by Union Wireless (filed through consultant SACE Wireless) to build an 80-foot self-supporting lattice tower near an existing 50-foot tower on Blackmore.

Sabrina Kemper, Natrona County planning director, told the commission staff found the application complete and consistent with the county’s zoning rules, noting the applicant’s packet explained that the existing tower cannot support the planned equipment upgrade and that an 80-foot structure would expand LTE coverage and capacity along Southeast Wyoming Boulevard and into nearby residential areas including the vicinity of Summit Elementary School.

Chris Schlax, a consultant with SACE Wireless speaking for Union Wireless, said the project is part of the federal “RIP-and-Replace” program and that “there’s some Chinese-made equipment…the federal government has determined that that is a national security threat and so they’re funding replacement of that equipment.” He told the commission the new equipment and planned collocators would require an 80-foot structure and that the carrier is willing to remove the existing 50-foot tower within one year of the new tower being operational.

At public comment, resident Joe Nicholas said the proposed lattice design and added height would harm local views and urged the applicant to show comparative coverage studies for 50-, 60-, 70- and 80-foot options and to consider a monopole design. Nicholas also asked that removal of the existing tower be made a condition of approval; the applicant responded that it was open to removing the old tower within a year if the new tower performs as intended.

Commissioners acknowledged the viewshed concerns but said the application met the county’s siting criteria and code requirements. The motion to recommend approval included two conditions: that formal access easements be in place prior to construction (or prior to the BOCC hearing) and that the existing 50-foot tower be removed within one year of the new tower’s completion. The motion passed unanimously; the county attorney and staff confirmed the item will go to the BOCC on July 8.

Why it matters: The tower will host modern LTE equipment intended to improve mobile data and voice service for a sizeable residential corridor; neighbors emphasized aesthetics and asked for documentation that a taller tower is the best technical — not solely cost — solution.

Next steps: The commission forwarded its recommendation, with conditions, to the Natrona County Board of County Commissioners for final action at the July 8 meeting.