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Neighbors not sold on cell tower [The Valley News-Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.](Valley News-Dispatch (Tarentum, PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) June 17--A proposed cell phone tower along Sportsmen Road in Kiski Township is drawing mixed reactions from community members. Many neighbors protested the 168-foot tower during a zoning hearing Thursday night, objecting to the effect they believe it would have on the neighborhood's appearance, tranquility and safety. Others, including those representing Apollo-Ridge School District, argued better cell-phone service is needed in the rural, hilly township. Even several of those raising objections acknowledged the lack of reliable coverage. Verizon Wireless has proposed the tower for the rear of the property owned by Daniel and Amy Obriot, who own the business Obriot Builders and run a saw mill on the parcel. The land is about a half-mile from Route 56 near the intersection with Stony Lonesome Road. The township's three-member zoning hearing board said it will decide within 45 days whether to give its approval. Joseph Cortese, attorney for Verizon, told the three-member zoning hearing board that the tower plans had been altered since last month to better conform to township ordinances. The tower was reduced from 190 feet to 168 feet. Cortese said 168 feet is the minimum height Verizon needs to clear the tree line and cover its intended range. The tower also has been moved farther into the wooded, rear portion of the property, which Cortese said moved it farther away from buildings both on the Obriot land and neighboring properties. The closest building is the mill at 300 feet away; the closest neighboring home is about 500 feet away on land owned by Paul King. Cortese said the combination of lowering the tower and moving it farther away from buildings allowed the proposal to conform with setbacks required by the township. The land is zoned agricultural/residential, which usually does not permit communication towers. Towers are relegated to industrial zones in Kiski Township. However, zoning board member Mark Shaffer said the township has only two small industrial zones, neither of which could house a cell tower. Cortese said the zoning restrictions essentially block a cell tower from being built in Kiski Township. Under federal law, a municipality cannot prohibit towers from being constructed. The only remaining variance Cortese said the property would require is to allow the size of its 345-square-foot equipment building at the tower's base that would house radio equipment, heating and air conditioning, and a diesel-powered generator. The township usually limits such buildings to 150 square feet. Whether the generator would be noisy was a concern of neighbors. Although it would only run during power outages, it would kick on for a 15-minute test run about once a week. Neighbor Margaret Rae said she already is displeased with the operation of the saw mill, which she said generates dust and noise. She said traffic to both the mill and the tower would be too close to her home. "What has this done to the value of my house?" Rae said. Sportsmen Road resident Kathleen Taylor said a cell tower is needed, but she wondered if there was a better location for one. She referenced a statement by Apollo Elks member Diane Haney, who said the Elks had offered the their land to Verizon about five years ago but were rejected. "I want to enjoy the peace and quiet," said Taylor. "I don't want to make enemies of my neighbors. I just want it to be fair." Peter Skovrup, who lives across the street from the mill, said he thought the board should reject the proposal because Verizon had not provided documentation of several assertions, including the height required for the tower, other sites the company considered and other technical aspects. "This is not why I bought property in a rural neighborhood," Skovrup said. "I strongly object to it on the grounds of aesthetics, safety and impact on the neighborhood." "Why can't they go somewhere else?" asked Debbie White, a neighbor of the mill. "Why does it have to go in my neighborhood?" Jim Rickard, a Verizon radio frequency engineer, said a computer model pinpointed the proposed location as the best spot to boost coverage and still reach the next closest Verizon network to the west. Apollo-Ridge School Director Jim Ferguson and the district's technology director, Kevin Johnson, both asked the board to approve the plan because they said better coverage is needed at the district's complex, which is about a mile away. Johnson said there is no cell phone service inside school buildings and only spotty service immediately outside. Noting the district had lost phone service for at least an hour six times during the past school year, Johnson said having better cell service is needed for emergencies. Two other local businessmen also said they needed better cell-phone service for their jobs. Shaffer, the zoning hearing board member, said the board would schedule another meeting to make a decision. ___ To see more of The Valley News-Dispatch or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Valley News-Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544) |