APC debates removing telecommunications from county parks in UDO update

Commissioners on the Vermillion County Area Plan Commission spent an extended portion of their May 14 meeting discussing whether telecommunications facilities — including small cell or tower installations — should remain listed as permitted uses for county parks in the Unified Development Ordinance.

Commissioner Brandon Ruth argued that parks and recreation areas should be kept for nature and recreational use and proposed removing park zones from the list of permitted locations for telecommunication facilities. "My argument was that there's plenty of opportunities throughout the county with the other areas that are permitted," Ruth said, arguing that parks are often intended as natural spaces.

Other commissioners and a Clinton City resident, Robert Lindsay, raised counterpoints about coverage needs at larger public events and the practicalities of placement and maintenance: smaller “mini tower” installations can be appropriate for event coverage, they said, and telecommunications proposals currently must come to the BZA as a special exception in unincorporated parks. Commissioners noted that the UDO already requires special exceptions for telecommunication facilities in parks and that variances for height or setbacks also apply.

The board discussed mapping county-owned parks and available adjacent parcels to assess whether removing parks from the permitted zone list would create coverage gaps. Commissioners agreed to study the issue further, direct staff to prepare a possible UDO text amendment and hold a public hearing in June if the board wants to pursue changes. The commission voted to table the item to the next meeting to gather more information.