Platte County planning commission approves 250-foot AT&T tower amid residents' concerns

The Platte County Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 18 approved a rezoning of an 8.5-acre parcel and a special-use permit to allow AT&T to install a 250-foot self-support lattice telecommunications tower east of 14830 North Lisonbee Road.

Jason Halpern, assistant director of planning and zoning, told the commission staff had reviewed the site plan, found the parcel met lot-size and frontage requirements for the requested RE (rural estates) zoning and recommended approval of both the rezoning and the special-use permit. Halpern said the compound would include a 100-by-100-foot lease area, a generator, equipment cabinets and antenna mounts, and that because the tower exceeds 200 feet it will require FAA review and be lighted.

Daniel Erickson, director of planning, briefed the commission on state and federal limits the commission must respect when reviewing wireless applications. Erickson said local authorities cannot deny or condition applications based on business decisions, alternate locations, the type of wireless facility, or radio-frequency health concerns regulated by the FCC. "You have to look at the application as it was submitted to you and look at the criteria and base your decision on those criteria," Erickson said.

AT&T's representative, Jake Gain, was sworn and said the carrier places towers based on customer-complaint-driven coverage analyses and tight "search rings," and that the proposed tower would relieve load on five existing towers in the area. "Fiber will be brought to this tower," Gain said, adding that bringing fiber could also benefit nearby properties by providing internet access.

Neighbor George Westmeister of North Wyndham Road opposed the tower's height, saying the 250-foot structure would be "menacing" above nearby homes and that the record contains no study on potential impacts to property values. "There's no study that shows what detrimental impact it could have on property values," Westmeister said.

Commissioners debated aesthetics, screening and the limits of local review. Staff emphasized the applicant's proposed foam-stone fence, an evergreen buffer and reliance on existing grain bins and timber to screen the base of the facility. Erickson warned the commission that many reasons commonly raised by neighbors—such as health or alternate siting—are prohibited considerations under state and federal law.

After discussion the commission moved and separately voted on the rezone and the special-use permit. The motions carried; staff noted at least one commissioner cast a dissenting vote on an item during the roll-call-style raised-hand votes. The approvals are subject to obtaining required FAA approvals and meeting any conditions noted by staff.

Next steps for the project include the applicant securing FAA documentation and final permits before construction can proceed.