“This will be a tremendous eyesore not only for couples getting married, but to others … heading toward the park,” Beers predicted.

The permit application says that a balloon test had indicated that “the tower would be visible from locations along Highway 2 and Belton Stage Road, although the visibility varies depending on trees in the foreground and the height of the horizon.” It says that the tower would be concealed within a tree-like “monopine” structure.

Even so, Flathead County Planner Rachel Ezell said the Planning and Zoning Department had received about 11 letters opposing the tower by Wednesday afternoon, compared to two in support. The Daily Inter Lake reported that last year, Flathead County rejected a proposed 150-foot tower at the same site, and that the Middle Canyon Land Use Advisory Committee has recommended that the permit be denied.

However, the Flathead County Planning and Zoning Office’s report on the application concluded that the request “is generally supported by the review criteria” and its own research. It also says that T-Mobile and Velocity LTE have shown an interest in the tower.