Planning commission approves Rocky Mountain Power permit to replace 51 distribution poles

The Marion Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for Rocky Mountain Power to replace 51 existing distribution poles in eastern Summit County. Planning staff presented the request as a targeted pole-replacement project intended to improve the utility’s distribution system and joint-use clearances; staff recommended approval with findings and conditions as laid out in the staff report.

Planning staffer Mustafa said the company’s request covered ‘‘about 50 51 distribution poles in Eastern Summit County,’’ and that the replacement poles would be roughly 3.5 feet taller than the existing poles to accommodate communications and other joint-use attachments. Mustafa told the commission approximately 16 of the 51 poles are located in a floodplain zone and that the applicant has submitted the required application to county engineering for floodplain clearance.

Members of the public in the room and online raised concerns about poles running over private lots and whether replacements could be relocated to leave room for building. Penny O’Gara, a Woodland landowner, asked whether poles could be moved closer to the property line while replacements occur because ‘‘the poles go right over our property and kitty corner’’ and the family is preparing to build. The chair closed the public-comment portion and invited staff and the applicant to respond.

Andy, representing Rocky Mountain Power, said the work is primarily single-pole replacements for aging infrastructure, not a line rebuild. He told the commission ‘‘some of these poles might be the last pole before going to the house or to the barn,’’ and that moving a pole outside its existing alignment would require a separate realignment process and likely a customer-initiated work order. He said limited within-easement adjustments may be possible but significant realignment would put the utility outside its recorded alignment and trigger additional review and costs.

A commissioner moved to approve the CUP pursuant to the staff report’s findings, conclusions of law and conditions; another commissioner seconded the motion. The roll-call-style vote recorded at least one ‘‘No’’ from Commissioner Dave and an ‘‘Aye’’ from Commissioner Bridgette; the chair declared the conditional use permit approved. Staff will document floodplain and engineering conditions prior to final permitting.

The approval authorizes the pole-replacement project to proceed under the conditions in the staff report; property owners seeking pole relocation were advised to contact Rocky Mountain Power’s service center to request an estimator and a separate work order for realignment.