Alternative Solutions

1. ALLTEL - PANEL AROUND WATER TOWERS: The town of La Veta is currently considering a proposal from Alltel/Verizon for a cell phone panel on one of the water tanks. This panel will not extend above the height of the tank and La Veta would collect rent estimated to be between $10,000.00 – $20,000.00 annually. This issue was on the agenda for the town meeting 7:00 PM.. August 5. The board agreed to move forward and the town attorney is contacting Alltel.

2. COMMNET WIRELESS:

Mike Moore, owner of River's Edge B&B, allowed Commnet Wireless (http://www.commnetwireless.com/ Castle Rock, CO 80109 Office: (720) 733 8049) to install a small 6 foot test antenna on top of his building in Cuchara. It handles the immediate area that it can be seen from, for example, down to the Yellow Pines Ranch. It is only 6 feet tall. Small towers are sometimes also installed successfully on other existing structures/highpoints, such as football field lights, or even telephone poles.

As of 9/2, the town of La Veta is currently considering a proposal from Commnet Wireless for 6 flush mount antennas on the sides of the 2nd town water tank. This would provide service for AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile customers, as well as hundreds of international carriers. The antennas would be painted to match the tanks. A visual simulation was presented. There would be 2 antennas pointing towards Cuchara, 2 towards La Veta Pass and 2 towards HWY 12 and 160 intersection. Commnet stated that these will provide coverage for all and will be the best solution. Their goal would be to adjust/remedy Cuchara as needed to make Hwy 12 coverage between La Veta and Cuchara 'seamless'. The motion to enter contract negotiations via the town attorney (like the Alltel contract) was made because it could represent $18,000 in revenue to the town. It was passed unanimously.

With so many company's available and competiting to provide service, the town can outline it's desired requirements in advance: e.g. coverage throughout the town and over what area, no destruction of view shed, revenue for the town, option for coverage up to Cuchara. That way it would be known in advance what the benefits and impact would be. Individuals and/or towns make money for installing cell phone towers and have the final say on whether the company will be allowed to. The town of La Veta can have great cell phone service on its terms.

The people of the area apparently increasingly need a commitment from the town to take these steps to engage with a company for a wireless solution on their terms, either with Commnet or with another. In the meantime, we require our commissioners and representatives to say "No" to the wrong solutions and not let them go through.

I know a citizen in high place (living in La Veta and having a view clear to Hwy 160) who is willing to allow the same installation to occur on the roof of their own home! Perhaps this is all we need. In our mountainous/ridgy area, even a 180' tall tower located at the town lakes will not provide line-of-site to Cuchara. It is not higher than the dike walls and mountains. Smaller towers in more strategically selected locations could. This town does not need to be in the position of making high-risk "yes" or "no" reactive decisions; there are communications companies knocking at the door for a chance to serve and pay us for doing it.

3. On top of one of the EXISTING poles along HWY 160 that are North of La Veta and clearly overlooking the town.

4. Tower on Sheep Mtn.

5. Possible small tower near the fire repeater on the mesa

6. Possible small tower near the police repeater on La Veta Pass

7. Any number of open places north of 160, which are higher... Maybe the old truckstop, but a low tower.



Letter from the Town Board of La Veta to the County

September 1, 2008

Huerfano County Commissioners
Huerfano County Courthouse
401 Main Street, Suite 201
Walsenburg, Colorado 81066

To: Commissioners Cain, Bobian, and King:

On August 19, the La Veta Board of Trustees unanimously voted to oppose construction of a 180’ monopole cell tower, as proposed by Sub-Carrier Communications, to Huerfano County, in General Land Development Application Form file number 08-31. This includes an “Application for Conditional Use Permit.” This objection deserves serious consideration by the Commissioners due to the proposed tower’s proximity to town and town property, its impact on views to and from the town, and the acknowledgement within the Huerfano County Land Development Guide that land management and use decisions are a shared responsibility among the county and municipal governments.(2.10.11).

On August 11, 2008, the Town Board held a public meeting on the proposed cell tower where the opponents outnumbered the supporters 10 to 1. The people in attendance were extremely concerned over the prospect of losing their pristine view, felt imposed upon by a private developer, and did not feel the “benefit” of potentially improved cell service outweighed the cost of living with the blight of the tower. Several made the point of encouraging the Town Board to continue to work on a lease agreement with the company who has a proposal before the Town to install flat panel antennas on the town water tank. Since that meeting the town, has received an additional proposal for a second installation on the second water tank. The two projects represent all major cell service providers, and the representatives for those companies state these installations will cover La Veta and a significant portion of the valley.

The La Veta Town Board objects to the tower because of the adverse impact it will have on the views throughout the Cuchara Valley, and it’s violation of the Huerfano County Land Development Guide(HCLDG). The HCLDG was officially adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in July of 1999 and states that it’s implementation would “contribute to the continuation of the lifestyles, natural beauty and opportunities that make Huerfano County a unique place to live, work, and recreate. We ask you to give careful consideration to the language of the guide, especially the Criteria for Action on a Conditional Use Application, and again stress the overwhelming negative impact this tower would have on La Veta. Denial of this tower will not condemn the residents of the Valley to lack of coverage. There is currently widespread coverage available and numerous current technologies that could offer coverage in the current “dead zones.” The proposed 180’ tower is not an adequate addition to the current level of service, but wholly detrimental to that which is a very large part of what residents of this valley cherish, our gorgeous, unencumbered views.

Below are citations from the HCLDG which are most relevant to this issue.

Section 1.05, Purpose, reads “The purpose of this Guide is to provide an integrated, comprehensive plan and land use code...” and continues with a list that includes:
6. fostering the emergence of balanced, orderly patterns of growth
9. preserving areas of historical, visual, and archeological significance
13. otherwise giving due consideration to and promoting the provisions contained in Section II (the Comprehensive Plan) of this guide.

Section 2.08, County Goals and Objectives reads “The goals and objectives of Huerfano County listed below have been adopted to provide a general framework for the use and application of this Guide and for the making of the recommendations and decisions described within the various sections of the Guide. The goals and objectives of Huerfano County shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:...
2. Resource Conservation and Development: Preserve the scenic vistas, unique natural areas and other visually important sites within Huerfano County.

Section 2.11.05 Modernized Telecommunications Infrastructure reads: Above ground telecommunications facilities, particularly towers, antennas and related commercial communications fixtures shall be grouped or clustered and wherever feasible located east of Interstate Highway I-25 and north of Highway 10. Under no circumstances shall such facilities be located within a SCO, Scenic Conservation Overlay District, or location that obstructs or infringes on ridge line views or other local scenic features.

Section 2..12.09 Policies, reads: ...the following goal, objectives and policies apply specifically to the Cucharas-La Veta planning subarea corridor:
1. Goals and Objectives
01. To preserve and protect the visual appearance of the entire Corridor and especially the Colorado Highway 12 portion of the Highway of Legends Scenic and Historic Byway.
2. Policies
05. It is a policy of the County to protect from visual obstruction, and esthetic(sic) intrusion, the scenic values of the Corridor. Consequently, development in the planning area shall be sited, constructed and finished in a manner that will cause the minimum possible disruption of the area’s scenic value with special emphasis on protecting the areas adjacent to the designated Highway of Legends Scenic and Historic Byway.
08. It is a policy of the County to plan and otherwise work cooperatively with organizations, associations and government units in the Corridor for the implementation of this sub-plan

Section 2.12.10, Generalized Development Plan reads: This generalized development plan for the territory within the Cucharas-La Veta Corridor is intended to provide a conceptual framework for the future growth of the area. the features of this plan include:
7. Prevention of scattered development along the bottom lands of the Cucharas River or on visually obtrusive ridge-line sites

Future development was addressed in the HCLDG in section 2.12.11-Future Planning Needs in the Cuchara-La Veta Sub-area Corridor, which describes an intergovernmental “free standing development” plan which would address:
4. Acceptable measures for the protection of the visual appearance and critical wildlife habitat of various portions of the Corridor.
5. Infrastructure expansion and upgrades and service delivery needs required to safely and effectively support publicly acceptable levels of development throughout the Corridor.

Economic Development Issues, Opportunities and Problems were addressed in Section 2.13.03 and noted that: “ Huerfano County does not lack development opportunities resulting from it geography, geology, and other characteristics. These opportunities and advantages include:
5. Underutilized areas of great scenic beauty with the potential for an expanded local tourist industry based on passive and active recreational pursuits in these areas.”

The goals and objectives were laid out in Section 2.13.04 and read: The economic development and capital improvement goals and objectives of Huerfano County shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the following:
01. To convert undeveloped land to residential, commercial, recreational and industrial uses in an orderly, rational manner, consistent with the other goals and objectives contained within this Comprehensive Plan and especially those contained within Section 2.10.
02. To aid in the development of the County’s natural resource base for the benefit of present and future residents, except when such development would conflict with other provisions of this Guide.
2. Policies
01. It is a policy of Huerfano County to promote development of the County’s natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations, except where such development, even with appropriate mitigating measures, would conflict with other provisions of this Guide.

The HCLDG contains section 3.06.03, Criteria for Action on a Conditional Use Application, which states the Commissioners will approve or disapprove applications based in general upon the provisions of the Guide and specifically on the following:
1. The proposed conditional use conform to the requirements and provisions of this zoning regulation.
2. That the proposed conditional use is consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of Huerfano County, as contained in Section ll of the Guide and specifically with reference to the provisions contained in Sections 2.08, 2.09,2.10, ...subsections 2.12.09, 2.12.10, ...
3. That the proposed conditional use is consistent with, and in harmony, with neighboring land uses and future land uses in the area.
6. That the proposed conditional use not unnecessarily scar the land on which such use would be located and that the proposed use provide all measures necessary to mitigate negative impacts upon....scenic views...

Sincerely yours,