The Imperial County Planning Commission voted to deny Conditional Use Permit 25-0004 and Variance 25-0001, a proposal by Vertical Bridge to build a new telecommunications monopole in Holtville, after public comment raised safety and visual-impact concerns and commissioners questioned the need for another tower near existing infrastructure.

Planner Luis Benaharano presented the proposal, identified in staff materials as Conditional Use Permit 25-0004 and Variance 25-0001 (initial study 25-0012), for a telecommunications facility at 1734 Underwood Road (APN 045-600-017). The staff report described a proposed unmanned monopole within a 1,600-square-foot fenced lease area; the presentation referred to the structure both as a "120-foot tall cell tower" (agenda language) and as a "130-foot monopole" (project slides). Benaharano said Vertical Bridge proposed colocatable capacity, listed equipment the planned installation would accommodate, and recommended adoption of a mitigated negative declaration and approval of the CUP and variance subject to conditions and findings presented to the commission. The staff report also noted the project would provide space for Imperial Valley Emergency Communications Authority (IVECA) equipment.

Vertical Bridge was represented by Samantha Herman of Assurance Development, who confirmed the applicant’s materials. Several residents spoke in opposition during the public comment period. Michael Potter and other neighbors said existing towers in the area (including a tower near Bonns Corner Road and others on the east mesa) provide adequate service and that adding a new tower would cause hazards for crop-dusting aircraft and military helicopters, add strobe lighting and visual impacts near residences, and reduce property values. Potter said, "We don't need a tower there." Diana Rubin, a nearby property owner, said the site is close to residences and a high school and expressed concerns about radiation and visual impacts.

Benaharano and the applicant’s representative said the carrier proposed for the new tower is T-Mobile and that engineers prepared propagation maps and coverage analyses indicating a gap in T‑Mobile 4G/5G coverage that the proposed tower would address; staff said the applicant evaluated about 24 alternative sites and existing towers but concluded they would not meet the same coverage objectives. The applicant also proposed a backup diesel generator for the compound.

A motion to deny the conditional use permit was made and seconded. On roll call the motion passed and the commission denied the project; the chair announced the applicant may appeal to the Board of Supervisors within 10 days.

The denial preserves the status quo of existing tower locations and leaves the applicant the option to appeal. The staff record includes the mitigation and findings that would have supported approval and the propagation analyses that the applicant provided; those materials remain part of the administrative record for any appeal or subsequent submittal.