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What does a new 88 foot emergency communications tower in Afton have to do with Chisago County? It is an example of what some people, who've been advocating for more scenic elements in the local zoning code, would like Chisago County to embrace.

The St. Croix Scenic Coalition worked with the city of Afton on this "stealth-designed" tower that looks like a pine tree. This communications tower is a first for the St. Croix Valley as an example of what many hope will become standard design along the national riverway and within its viewshed.

Bill Neuman, a Franconia area resident active with the coalition, commented that local authorities "no question" have the legal authority to require certain materials and design elements for structures requiring a permit, like towers.

He said the coalition hopes to work with the Chisago County planning commission on upcoming fine-tuning of the county zoning and land use regulations. "Reinstating scenic elements" into the county's rapidly evolving zoning code is important, he said.

Neuman explained "the courts have upheld" other government units' requirements on construction and installation of towers, so no new legal ground needs to be broken. Chisago County should be able to incorporate stealth design in local code on towers.

Ron Carlson, Lake St. Croix Beach in south Washington County, serves as vice president of the St. Croix Scenic Coalition. Initially, he stated, the coalition worked with Afton area officials and citizens to create alternatives to what was a "strictly functional" proposal, that he said, "...would have been an intrusion into Afton's scenic countryside."

Carlson added, "The final outcome was a plan that accomplished the public safety goal while preserving scenic and environmental values, all in full compliance with Afton's wireless communication ordinance."

The pine tree tower is part of a 13-antennae system installed by Washington County. Equipment hidden in the "greenery" includes whip antennaes for emergency communication and paging plus a microwave dish linking the 800 MHz radio system expected to be operational in spring 2009.

This stealth design, Carlson continued, is an "environmentally superior solution that can be applied to cellular phone service and other emerging communication needs while protecting the valley's scenic resource and avoiding protracted tower permitting...development and progress can be achieved without degrading scenery, environment or community character."

Chisago County Planner Patrick Hollister said the new regulations adopted by the County Board a few weeks ago do not include any new tower-related language. The rules dictate maximum height of 199 feet, setback from structures or boundary of property equal to the tower height. "There's no special provisions on design," he added.

Tower installation is through a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) so the county has historically added various "conditions" onto the tower permits, Hollister said.

Learn more about protecting our outstanding St. Croix Valley at www.stcroixsceniccoalition.org.

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