A federal judge has ordered the Park County, WY Commission to approve Horizon Tower Limited LLC’s application to build a 195-foot cell tower just outside Yellowstone National Park, following an 18-month legal battle. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson, came after Park County initially denied the company’s request in February 2023 to construct the tower near Wapiti, Wyoming, citing concerns about the tower’s compatibility with surrounding land uses and potential adverse effects on nearby properties.
The judge’s order mandates that the county approve the application by Friday. However, in response, the Park County Commission has filed an appeal with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, according to the Cowboy State Daily. Horizon Tower’s application was aimed at addressing the poor or non-existent cell phone coverage in the Wapiti area. The company had secured a lease agreement with a local landowner to place the tower on a 30-acre parcel of land.
The Park County Planning and Zoning Commission had initially rejected the proposal, citing opposition from residents and a petition signed by more than 65 percent of Wapiti landowners, expressing concerns about the potential negative impact the tower could have on the area’s character and property values. Despite this, the federal judge ruled that the county’s reasons for denying the tower were insufficient, leading to the current legal challenge.
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