A proposed 104-foot cellphone tower in the Animas Valley will be up for its long-awaited vote at the La Plata County Commissioner’s board meeting on Tuesday.
Skyway Towers LLC is seeking a “new wireless communications facility special use permit,” which would allow it to build the tower with the intent of expanding and improving AT&T’s coverage area.
The proposed tower would be at 619 Trimble Lane within the Sandco gravel pit property, but it has drawn criticism from nearby residents who say the structure would degrade the view and property values.
AT&T has been trying to build a tower in the Animas Valley since early 2010. In the most recent proposal, developers reduced the height of the tower by 20 feet, citing neighbors’ concerns.
“The Applicant has agreed to redesign the tower to reduce the height to 100 feet, even though this reduces the coverage area for AT&T,” the report says. An additional 4 feet is needed for other equipment.
Last month, the La Plata County Planning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend approval of the project. Chairman Jim Tencza, who voted in favor of the project, said other commissioners were opposed because of residents’ concerns.
Ultimately, Tencza said he supported the cellphone tower because he didn’t think it would be that much of a visual blight in the valley and would likely provide better service to residents and travelers passing through.
“Sometimes we gotta bite the bullet and end up with things we don’t really want,” he said. “In the long run, it’ll probably prove itself to be worthwhile.”
La Plata County commissioners Gwen Lachelt and Julie Westendorff could not be reached for comment. Commissioner Brad Blake said Thursday he had not reviewed the updated proposal.
Jenny Vierling, a resident in the valley opposed to the tower, maintained the same concerns about the structure’s impact on the view, adding that she’d like to see AT&T pursue alternative technology that could also expand its coverage area.
“AT&T has presented the most low cost, most visible and permanent option,” she said. “I think as a community, we can ask them to present an option that we know is available that is more compatible with the surrounding area.”
AT&T has said it will paint the cellphone tower a neutral color to reduce the visual impact. The company has said it evaluated other areas, but the Sandco gravel pit was deemed the only viable option.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
