T-Mobile’s Chubbuck cell tower application denied

Representatives for T-Mobile came to Chubbuck Wednesday night to make the case for a controversial cell tower to be built on the grounds of Chubbuck Elementary. But after hours of debate, Chubbuck City Council denied T-Mobile’s application.

Chubbuck’s Public Land Use Commission had previously granted T-Mobile a conditional permit for the 80-foot tower provided it was built at least 80 feet from property lines and from the school’s playground.

The plan T-Mobile presented to City Council Wednesday night would have put the tower along the school’s eastern property line and would have required some of the playground’s equipment to be relocated.

Rocky Schutjer with Utah-based Rage Development, which represents T-Mobile, asked the city to grant T-Mobile a waiver.

“The shock value of putting a site at a school — just want you guys to understand how prevalent that is and how normal course of business that is,” Schutjer told council members.

The cell tower would have been T-Mobile’s only tower in Chubbuck.

The phone giant insisted it needed it due to “thousands” of complaints from customers about spotty signals in the Chubbuck area.

But many residents expressed concern about having a cell tower located near their homes.

“It’s not a place for a tower of this type,” said Allen Martin who lives near Chubbuck Elementary. “I can see no reason whatsoever in having something like this in a residential area.”

The city’s attorney told Local News 8 T-Mobile can still appeal the council’s decision in federal court.