Planning Commission to review stealth cell tower at 305 W Snow King Ave

The Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss whether to approve a conditional use permit for a stealth wireless facility at 305 West Snow King Avenue (the fairgrounds rodeo grounds) on July 15. The applicant, Diamond Communications LLC, wants to remove the existing freestanding wireless tower and instead mount the equipment on top of the rodeo grandstand, with antennas and radios concealed inside architectural screening meant to match the grandstands, according to the agenda packet.

For families, the practical question is whether this is a mostly visual change (a less noticeable tower) or whether the design adds new impacts. Town planning staff recommend approval and say the project would not change access, parking, lighting, or add an emergency generator, and it is meant to keep wireless service reliable during big fairgrounds events. The Design Review Committee supported the concept but asked for design tweaks, including a less “kitchy” look and more detail on materials, plus a note for the commission to consider lightning protection and public safety during the permit review agenda.