Fire district considering cell tower in CB South

Next steps include community engagement, POA collaboration

By Katherine Nettles

The Crested Butte Fire Protection District (CBFPD) is in the early stages of considering the option of placing a cell tower atop its own facility in Crested Butte South, which could solve an increasingly challenging problem for emergency medical services and communication in the area. The CBFPD board of directors had a presentation from a tower company last week and discussed the opportunity afterward, determining it will engage in public outreach and full consideration of the community and financial impacts before making a decision. However, it was made clear the lack of cellular service is a major issue that must be addressed for health and human safety of those who live in and visit the CB South area, and for the emergency services operations there.

Prior to the meeting, CBFPD CFO Sean Caffrey described the opportunity with the CB News. 

“We have been working with a tower company, Western Slope Towers, for the last three years or so to identify options for improved public safety radio communications and cell phone service in the CB South area which is a known problem area for both,” Caffrey reviewed. “This coverage gap hinders the public from easily calling 911 and further hinders our ability to communicate during responses.”

Caffrey relayed that the CBFPD has explored several site options and contacted multiple landowners in the area. 

“About a month ago our colleagues at Western Slope Towers indicated that they believe the Crested Butte South Fire Station, our Station #3, located at 349 Teocalli Road is the most ideal location of those they have found to be viable.”

 Western Slope Towers presented a tower proposal to the CBFPD board of directors at their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 8. Western Slope Towers currently operates a multi-user tower facility on Comstock Mountain above Almont, a site on U.S. Hwy 50 at the eastern entrance to Little Blue Canyon and is actively working with Gunnison County Emergency Management on another site near McClure Pass on Highway 133. 

The options under consideration are centered on an 85-foot multi-user tower on the station parcel in CB South, immediately adjacent to the station. It would include some “stealth features” and be able to accommodate up to three commercial wireless carriers in addition to the CBFPD’s public safety radio system. It would also include an adjacent radio/electric shelter and back-up generator.

The stealth option presented is a “monopine” tower camouflaged to look like a pine tree.

Following the presentation, the board determined that they would like to explore the option further before deciding whether to proceed with a development agreement with Western Slope Towers and a land use request with Gunnison County. 

“If the board decides to proceed this will be a first step that will lead to a zoning / land use process, additional outreach meetings with the CB South POA, and a final go / no-go decision from our board would be made in about 30 – 60 days,” said Caffrey.

“I think collaboration with the POA is important as the fire station is essentially surrounded by Red Mountain Park,” noted Caffrey. “My background is not in engineering, however, I have used radio and cell phone equipment for over the past 35 years as an emergency responder so I can say with certainty that we have a coverage problem in CB South that impacts public safety and needs a solution.”

The cost estimates are not yet firm, however the CBFPD was advised that cell sites of this nature run in the $600,000 to $1 million range based on the amount of work required to get to the site and connect utilities, said Caffrey.

Board members reviewed previous locations considered in the area on multiple different private parcels, but which would have been impeded by lack of year-round access, geographic features and/or willing landowners. These included the Metro District water tank and light poles around the hockey rink. 

Next steps would be to work with the POA and engage with the community directly. Board members agreed that it would be important to conduct community outreach and host open public meetings, to hear from those with concerns and those who also support having better cellular service. 

“It’s important to be a good neighbor,” said Caffrey.