The Issue
We do not believe that is in the best interest of the community and county to approve a a 69 foot cell tower in Valley Hills, Heber City, UT for these reasons and others:

1. By allowing a 203% variance from current height restrictions (from 34 feet to 69 feet), the County is setting a very dangerous precedent. Future applicants will point to this variance as justification to make additional request height increases, which will gravely impact our beautiful county and landscape.

2. Not only is the height variance of great concern but the size of this structure is completely out of scale and character for a residential neighborhood. We do not believe that there is any similar height or sized structures in any established residential neighborhood anywhere nearby. A giant tower, even if poorly disguised as a tree, does not fit the character of this long established neighborhood. No landscaping plans by Atlas Tower will mitigate the appearance of this tower which on an already elevated hill will be seen for miles surrounding.

3. Placing this enormous structure in a residential neighborhood will interrupt the views of many families and adversely impact our community for the entire length of the lease. This is not a temporary structure and the globally recognized adverse health outcomes of cellular towers of this size near residential homes are of serious concern.

4. The visual impact of this cell tower will drastically alter the defining aesthetic characteristic of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is perched alongside the hills of Heber - even being named Valley Hills - and the established landscaping and natural backdrop contribute to the intrinsic value of the community and the natural beauty which we came here for. This area is commonly used and appreciated for the natural hiking and mountain biking right behind. The visual element of the neighborhood will be dramatically degraded by an 69 foot cell tower.

5.  This structure, if approved, will devalue any property in close proximity to it. 

6. We have safety concerns about this proposed location. Numerous helicopters including a privately owned chopper and the local life flight helicopter fly over this exact site multiple times per week. They fly at low altitude to their home pads and/or the backcountry directly behind this area. We are concerned that the tower will interrupt both the helicopter flight paths and small plane paths therefore this could affect response times and jeopardize safety of flight crews and patients. The FAA review did not appear to consider the many private hobby flights taking place in the area daily. Also if lighted beacons are required that will add to the light pollution that the County is trying to reduce.

We respectfully request that you reject the proposed conditional use permit and find a more suitable location for a giant hazardous tower - in an industrial area or higher elevation where the surroundings include fewer established residential homes.