Cell tower planned for Colburn

SANDPOINT — A cell tower is being proposed near the corner of Colburn Culver and Hopkins roads, according to Bonner County Planning Department records.

The 140-foot monopole tower is being sought by Verizon Wireless to address coverage and capacity issues in the area. The project’s applicant is identified as Lynn Berg, a Colburn Culver Road resident.

The project is still in the application phase, which means a public hearing has not been set yet.

The tower would have a 12-panel antenna array and co-location capability, which means other wireless service providers could also use it with their equipment. The site would have a 10-foot by 26-foot equipment shelter.

The 40-foot by 40-foot wireless communications site would be located in an Agriculture/Forestry zoning district with 10-acre minimum lot sizes.

The project’s stormwater management plan and land capability report are pending, according to planning records.

Verizon Wireless engineer Scott Cashmore said in the application packet that tower would create additional capacity and increase the efficiency of existing cells, “thus providing all users in the vicinity with much higher 4G wireless data transfer speeds and a better overall wireless experience.”

If approved by the county, construction of the project would commence in June 2015 and be completed in about two months, the application states.