Wrangell rejects Tlingit and Haida communications tower near 13-Mile
- Wrangell Sentinel
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
By Larry Persily
Wrangell Sentinel
In a 3-1 vote, the planning and zoning commission responded to concerns and opposition raised by residents and denied Tidal Network’s application for a conditional-use permit to erect a 230-foot-tall telecommunications tower near 13-Mile Zimovia Highway.
“My brain is telling me yes. My heart is telling me (vote) no,” said Jillian Privett, one of three commission members who voted against the permit on Nov. 4. “This is really difficult.”
Commissioners indicated that the height of the tower and the visual impacts of the structure and lighting — issues raised by multiple nearby property owners in public testimony at the meeting — were the basis of their denial.
Borough staff had recommended approval of the permit. Because the commission decided against approval, a written finding will be prepared to explain the grounds for their decision.
The commission’s role was not to decide if the tower is “desirable,” but whether it meets the specific requirements in municipal code for a conditional-use permit, Economic Development Director Kate Thomas told members before they voted on the application.
“We’re going to evaluate the situation and the findings,” and then make a decision on the next step, Chris Cropley, Tidal Network director, said a day after the commission meeting.
A denied applicant, such as Tidal Network, can appeal a commission rejection to the borough assembly.
The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska operates Tidal Network. The council president, Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson, flew into Wrangell to attend the commission meeting.
Tlingit & Haida received a $50 million federal grant in 2022 to build towers and install equipment to provide wireless internet service for unserved and underserved areas across Southeast Alaska.
In addition to a tower installed at 3-Mile Zimovia Highway in Wrangell this summer and its proposal for the one near 13-Mile, Tidal Network is working on plans to build its next towers in Haines and Petersburg, Cropley said.
“I want to make sure what we do is in lockstep with the community,” Peterson told Wrangell’s planning and zoning commissioners, adding that Tlingit & Haida wants to work with residents and “continue to have conversations” to address their concerns.
He talked about improved telecommunication services as important for a community’s economic health, particularly to attract and retain people who work remotely.
The application denied by the commission had been revised by Tlingit & Haida after its original request was rejected by the commission in August. They lowered the tower height by 20 feet and addressed other concerns in their revised application.
Just about all of the written and in-person testimony at the Nov. 4 meeting was against the tower.
“There’s an awful lot of negative feedback,” said Commissioner Gary Watkins.
“I know there are a lot of people who feel they will be negatively affected by the tower,” Privett followed.
In addition to Privett and Watkins, Commissioner Kathleen St. Clair voted to deny the permit. Commission Chair Terri Henson voted yes. Commissioner Apryl Hutchinson was absent.
Much of the public testimony questioned the need for the tower at all, with people saying that Alaska Power & Telephone lines and Starlink satellite service are more than adequate for residents in the area.
Sylvia Ettefagh, who spoke strongly against the tower, later said she lives at about 12.8-Mile, with four homes farther out the road than her — and all get their internet service through AP&T lines.
Tidal Network has said the tower is intended not just to serve residents who live in the immediate area but for residents who live along the highway back toward town, people recreating in the area, boaters on the water and emergency responders in the area who could benefit from improved cell and internet services.
Ettefagh told the commission she had assembled and submitted letters from 49 people — “people out the road who don’t want that tower.”
AP&T has improved its service, she said, and Starlink is a preferred option for many people in the area.
Rod and Stina Rhoades were among the several letter writers who supported the permit request.
“It must be recognized that there are many cell phone ‘dead zones’ along Zimovia Highway. In our modern world, our cell phones are now a necessary part of life, whether we are happy about that or not,” the Rhoades said in their written testimony.
“The installation of this cell tower would give cell phone life to those of us who live south of the 8-Mile beach area, as well as anyone needing cell phone coverage in Zimovia Strait. … I would consider installation of this cell tower essential.”
Tidal Network has said it would lease space on the tower for other service providers.
Several people in their written and in-person testimony questioned the health risks from radio frequency (RF) radiation.
Leilani Sanford spoke against the tower, citing the “light pollution” of the aviation warning lights at the top of the tower. “The character of our rural area will be permanently altered,” she said.
Several of the written and in-person comments focused on the fear of lower property values in the area near the tower.
“I was shocked it will go on my appraisal,” Diane O’Brien said at the meeting.
“It’s an eyesore that isn’t needed,” said Olivia Strano. “We all have Starlink out here.”
At the end of the testimony, Thomas noted: “This is what the public process is all about.”
• This article originally appeared in the Wrangell Sentinel.
