An application to build a new cell phone tower in Lyon County is headed to Lyon County commissioners after receiving approval Wednesday night from the Lyon County Planning and Appeals board.
The application was made by Gary Watts, planning board member, and US Cellular for a new cell phone tower. Watts is the landowner at 1373 Road C. Watts excused himself from the discussion because he is involved with the application.
Belinda Bodie, zoning consultant for U.S. Cellular, said the company is trying to improve coverage in area, which also includes the Kansas Turnpike and U.S. Highway 50.
There was one letter from Mark Remmert, an adjacent landowner who opposed the application. Remmery was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting because of a business trip. In the letter, Remmert said that he purchased the land about a year ago, investing the family’s savings in the land so they could live in a rural area. Remmert said he never imagined having the distraction of a tower near the property. He asked that the tower be moved an additional 610 feet from the proposed location.
Bodie said she spoke to representatives at US Cellular and they had concerns about moving the tower because of elevations. Planning board members did not agree with this because the maps did not show a dramatic change in elevation.
Rolland Remmert, Mark Remmert’s father, represented his son.
“In principal, Mark is not against it, just in the placement,” Rolland Remmery said. “They really are looking forward to getting out her in the ‘wilds’ of Kansas and being able to settle in a home. This is a shock to him that they are going to build a tower in that area.”
Planning board members discussed the placement of the tower and agreed that it would not make that much difference to move the tower, stating that Remmery could place a house farther away from the property line. Remmery owns 240 acres adjacent to the proposed cell phone tower.
“Could you tell it was 1,000 feet away or could you tell if it was only 647 feet away?” Trenton Fagg, board member, asked.
After a few minutes of discussion, board member Phil Mott moved to approve the application as stated. The motion was seconded by Kent Grieder. Board member Kevin Karr amended the motion to include shields that direct the strobe lights away from the ground and additional landscaping on the ground near the tower. This motion passed 4-0.