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Commission weighs protecting view sheds while planning for energy and better cell coverage
Summary
Commissioners supported identifying view‑sheds to protect scenic character and asked NRPC to develop an enhanced energy plan and maps; they also urged inviting cell providers to outreach events to explain coverage tradeoffs.
Commissioners discussed balancing renewable energy goals with preservation of scenic views into and out of Bakersfield. The chair suggested adding language to the town plan to describe view sheds—areas from Route 36 and Route 108 with mountain views—and to identify where wind, solar, or other energy projects would be acceptable. "It would be nice to put some language in there that describes these as important to the character of Bakersfield," the chair said.
Commissioners also expressed concern that communications coverage gaps leave many residents without cell service and proposed focused outreach that would include a representative from a cell company to explain technical constraints and coverage trade‑offs. A commissioner said it would be helpful to have "somebody from the cell company out to these meetings to instruct us on the areas that would be best for a cell tower." The planner suggested separate, topic‑specific outreach sessions—one on energy and one on communications—to allow targeted input and presentations from subject matter experts.
