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Cell-tower opponent sees uncertain victory
(by Sue Reid - February 25, 2009)
Cell-tower opponent sees uncertain victory
By SUE REID
T-Mobile's withdrawal last week of plans to erect a 120-foot-high telecommunications tower in a residential section of Solon is a "victory," resident Jacquelyn Calavitta said. But she still thinks "the story needs to be told," she said.
The resident of Westminster Drive in the Hidden Lakes subdivision, near where the tower would have been located, said she doesn't believe Solon officials were looking out for the best interests of the residents in considering the proposal.
She began organizing a petition drive last week in the affected neighborhoods and already had about 30 signatures, she said. "Every house I was able to connect with signed the petition, and many said, 'Thank you so much for doing this,'" she said.
"The city pretended to listen to us," Ms. Calavitta said, "but they were going to sell our best interest down the drain for a minor financial gain."
The tower had been in the works for a year and a half and was soon to go before City Council for approval. Plans were to locate the tower immediately to the west of Fire Station No. 1 off of Harper Road. The planning commission was awaiting the approval of a structural analysis by the city's consultants.
However, a message from T-Mobile was sent to city Planning Director Robert S. Frankland last week citing budgetary constraints as the reason the company was withdrawing their request. Company officials indicated that they might revisit the site in 2010.
Mr. Frankland said he had no knowledge that there was a petition drive until recently, and he does not believe T-Mobile did either.
"They were moving slowly in getting the information to our consultants for the past month and a half, and I was suspicious something was up prior to that," he said. "It wasn't a big surprise that they withdrew."
Although there are towers on public land in the city, the T-Mobile tower would have been the first on residential land. It would have been on the border of the city's industrial district.
Normally, the city would not allow for towers within residential areas, but the issue is that it needs to be located generally in that area to address gaps in service, Mr. Frankland said. It was T-Mobile's contention, he said, that it is an area that need's cell-phone coverage.
Ms. Calavitta said she will never know the "absolute truth" as to why T-Mobile withdrew. She said she believes she found the "Achilles heel" in urging the city to abide by its ordinances and have alternative sites investigated and documented.
"I don't think they were prepared for this type of challenge and underestimated the residents' ability to read the ordinances," she said. At neighbors' urging, she said, the city requested T-Mobile look for other sites.
If the tower could not be located on the Fire Station No. 1 site, T-Mobile had indicated it would locate it in the Route 422 freeway interchange area.
Ms. Calavitta said that was an "intimidation technique" on the part of the city to say that, if it can't go in the residential area, it will go at the interchange. "The city is in direct violation of their own ordinances," she said.
Mr. Frankland said, although towers are not allowed in residential areas, there is an exception for government public-owned property.
The Route 422 interchange, which is a state right of way, "is out of our control," he said. "The state has a program where they will allow telecommunication towers and equipment in interchange areas, which is not something we would like to see in Solon." Mr. Frankland said that would have been a much more prominent location.
Ms. Calavitta said she could not get a straight answer from the city.
"I think the city is selling us out for a nickel, and it just infuriates me. Why would they jeopardize my property values and everybody else not only in Hidden Lakes but in the Harper and Cannon road areas?" She said the tower would have been in view from her front window.
Councilman Lon Stolarsky, who represents Ward 5, where the tower was proposed, said he respects the homeowners and certainly understands their concerns.
"Your home is your greatest investment," Mr. Stolarsky said. He said he relayed to the residents that whatever revenue could have been generated from the tower was really a "non-issue" for him. In fact, he said, if he had a choice, there would not be a tower at all.
"I respect the residents," Mr. Stolarsky said. He said he does think it's coincidental that T-Mobile pulled out at this time, but he has no reason to believe it was related to the petition.
Mr. Stolarsky said he has no reason to doubt the company's budget constraints. "I take them at their word," he said. "We're all dealing with budget issues now."
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