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Commission recommends Murado cell-tower CUP with one-year removal condition for old tower
Summary
The commission issued a unanimous due-pass recommendation for CUP 26-04, an 80-foot monopole proposed by Union Wireless as part of the FCC rip-and-replace program; commissioners added a condition that the existing 65-foot tower must be removed within one year after the new tower is operational.
The Natrona County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of CUP 26-04, a conditional-use permit for an 80-foot monopole at 700 Murado Drive that Union Wireless says is needed to support FCC-required equipment replacement.
Madeline Pennington, planning technician, explained staff found the application complete; notices were sent to 59 neighbors and staff received two written oppositions. "This application is for a new 80 foot monopole tower next to their existing 65 foot tower at 700 Murado Drive," Pennington said, and staff recommended a due-pass to the Board of County Commissioners.
Chris Schlaks of SAC Wireless, representing Union Wireless, said the work is part of an FCC rip-and-replace program to remove equipment deemed a national-security risk and that the existing wooden pole cannot support the new antennas. "There was, some Chinese made equipment that is deployed out in the network that was deemed a national security threat, from the FCC, and so the government is funding to replace it," Schlaks said. He told the commission the new tower would support Union plus two additional collocators and that the company is open to removing the existing tower after a one-year grace period to allow the network to switch over.
Residents raised questions about microwave dish size, placement and visibility. Thomas Smith said he reviewed external materials on microwave exposure and expressed concern about dish height relative to street level; Patricia Smith noted the site is near a power substation. Schlaks responded that the planned microwave dish is 2 feet in diameter, will point south in line of sight to another tower, and that the Murado site has a fiber connection at the fence boundary while a neighboring site to the south lacks fiber.
Commissioners approved the CUP with a friendly amendment requiring removal of the old tower within one year of construction of the new one; staff confirmed building-permit review will check for engineered (stamped) plans. The commission forwarded a unanimous due-pass recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners for the Sept. 1 hearing.
