The Homer City Council, acting as the Board of Adjustment, heard an appeal Tuesday night of a conditional use permit granted for a 160-foot microwave tower to be built on Easy Street off Skyline Drive. The Kenai Kodiak Cable Company proposes to build the tower to provide faster internet service to Port Graham and Nanwalek. The Homer Advisory Planning Commission approved the CUP at its Dec. 4 meeting.
Two nearby residents, Kevin Dee and Joe Carter, appealed the CUP. Arguing their appeals separately, Dee and Carter made many of the same points: that the planning commission did not consider the tower’s effect on the Bridge Creek Watershed, that the Kenai-Kodiak Cable’s application was incomplete and that the applicant made misleading statements. Dee said he did not oppose microwave towers in general.
“We like this project and we want it to happen, but not at an impact to the neighbors,” Dee said.
Carter also pointed out that the subdivision had covenants against structures like towers. The board considered remanding the case to the commission when Carter said material he submitted wasn’t in its packet, but the board determined his material had been included as a laydown at the meeting.
The board met for an hour in executive session after the appeal hearing to deliberate. A written decision will be announced within 30 days.