Two important hurdles to building a 190-foot communications and cell phone tower in Tofte were cleared when both the Cook County Planning Commission and then the Board of Adjustment approved the township’s request for a variance for a 1,000-foot setback and a conditional use permit at a special meeting held September 25, 2013 in the Cook County Commissioners room.
Fearing it would hurt property values and diminish the rugged beauty of the area, several people spoke in opposition to building the tower. Two who were opposed have homes within the 1,000-foot setback. One expressed fear that by building a large tower near their homes, their property could be harder to sell and their personal use of the property would be diminished because of viewing the tower from their windows.
Tofte Rescue Squad Chief Louise Trachta said the new tower would give her volunteers the ability to communicate over far greater distances than is now possible, and communication with Lutsen and Schroeder fire departments and rescue squads, the Cook County Sheriff ’s Department, the U.S. Forest Service and other emergency responders would be greatly enhanced because of the tower.
When Gary Hansen, whose son owns one of the two houses that fall within the 1,000-foot setback, asked why other sites outside of downtown Tofte hadn’t been explored, Shane Begley, a site location expert with Begley Wireless Consulting Service, said engineers had given him a ¼-mile area to place the new tower. He also said any new tower would have to be in the line of sight with the tower built in Schroeder so that there wouldn’t be any “dead spots” for cell phone users.
Rick Adams, an engineer with uslink.net, agreed with Begley that towers had to be in a line of sight to provide good coverage. He noted the rugged terrain and tall trees in this area block signals. “Here two miles is like 200 miles in other places,” said Adams.
When asked if the tower could be made into a “stealth tower” like the ones seen in Las Vegas that look like giant cactuses or are disguised in other ways, Adams said, “No, those towers are usually 80-foot towers with one to two tenants and built in warmer climates because they don’t work well with snow and ice on them.”
Jerry Gervais said the township had been working on this for four years and he was disappointed that some people were now coming forward to oppose the tower after not attending earlier meetings.
Tofte Supervisor Jim King cited the value to local residents, tourists, and local businesses as well as to emergency services workers as main reasons to build the tower.
Two planning commission members, Tofte supervisor D.C. Olsen and Tofte resident Jerry Gervais, recused themselves when it came time for the planning commission to vote. The vote to approve the tower passed unanimously.
Olson also sits on the Board of Adjustment and he again recused himself to avoid any possible conflict of interest charges. The vote again passed unanimously with Jerry Hiniker saying that while some would be offended, some inconvenienced, the needs and comforts of the many should supersede the loss of aesthetics to a few. “I can’t see denying coverage. It’s absolutely essential in an emergency to have this,” Hiniker said.
John Smith agreed with Hiniker: “From a safety standpoint, we need to approve this. I drove ambulance for 17 years and drove 500 to 600 times to Duluth. When we needed a helicopter to help transport victims, we couldn’t always get one because we couldn’t always reach them.”
The request will now go before the Cook County Board of Commissioners for a vote to approve or disapprove the planning commission recommendation.
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