Board of Supervisors approves Parklawn cell tower
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
unanimously passed a resolution Sept. 24 to approve a special exception
permitting the construction of a 128-foot cell tower on property owned by the
Parklawn Recreation Association.
unanimously passed a resolution Sept. 24 to approve a special exception
permitting the construction of a 128-foot cell tower on property owned by the
Parklawn Recreation Association.
That action follows a BoS hearing Sept. 10 during which more
than three dozen residents presented strong, passionate feelings on both sides
of the issue.
than three dozen residents presented strong, passionate feelings on both sides
of the issue.
Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, vice chair of the BoS, presented
the motion to approve special exception application SEA-93-M-047 “subject to
the revised development conditions consistent with those dated June 13, 2013,
and as amended with addition of a 25th
development condition that the monopole may not be constructed until the
applicant contains an approved SPA [special permit application].”
The SPA would amend the special permit
for pool operations on that property approved more than 40 years ago. The Fairfax
County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) denied the SPA in late July, and the cell
tower applicant is challenging that decision in circuit court.
for pool operations on that property approved more than 40 years ago. The Fairfax
County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) denied the SPA in late July, and the cell
tower applicant is challenging that decision in circuit court.
Some people think “we should hold our
decision until the BZA issue is resolved,” Gross said, but “the Federal Communications
Act requires us to act in a timely manner on this type of application.” The BZA waived the one-year waiting period for the applicant to refile,
she said, and if that happens, “the BZA could reach a different decision.”
decision until the BZA issue is resolved,” Gross said, but “the Federal Communications
Act requires us to act in a timely manner on this type of application.” The BZA waived the one-year waiting period for the applicant to refile,
she said, and if that happens, “the BZA could reach a different decision.”
“There are few issues that can be more
divisive than installation of a cell tower,” said Gross, noting she received
many letters and petitions on the proposal, including four lengthy letters from
opponents after the public hearing.
divisive than installation of a cell tower,” said Gross, noting she received
many letters and petitions on the proposal, including four lengthy letters from
opponents after the public hearing.
There are lots of cell towers in Mason,
and all have been subject to “expressions of concern at some time,” Gross said.
“In my experience as Mason District supervisor, within weeks of an
installation, the concerns vanish, as the cell tower, in whatever variety
selected, fades into the periphery as it becomes one more utility relied on by
the community.”
and all have been subject to “expressions of concern at some time,” Gross said.
“In my experience as Mason District supervisor, within weeks of an
installation, the concerns vanish, as the cell tower, in whatever variety
selected, fades into the periphery as it becomes one more utility relied on by
the community.”
The Parklawn proposal “has been particularly
thorny for some community members, especially those who live closest to the
site,” Gross said. “We heard about the value of maintaining the Parklawn Pool,
fear of walking on Holmes Run trail because cell phones won’t work in the case
of an emergency, and concern about home resale values, although realtors differ
on this issue.”
thorny for some community members, especially those who live closest to the
site,” Gross said. “We heard about the value of maintaining the Parklawn Pool,
fear of walking on Holmes Run trail because cell phones won’t work in the case
of an emergency, and concern about home resale values, although realtors differ
on this issue.”
“The economic benefit to the pool is
not a land use issue and should have no bearing on our decision,” she said.
not a land use issue and should have no bearing on our decision,” she said.
After reviewing statements from the
application, Gross said, “I am concerned
that there does not appear to be an alternative site.” According to federal
regulations, our ability to deny a particular site “is constrained if there are
no other alternative sites available.”
application, Gross said, “I am concerned
that there does not appear to be an alternative site.” According to federal
regulations, our ability to deny a particular site “is constrained if there are
no other alternative sites available.”
While several speakers at the hearing urged
the BoS to consider distributed antenna systems instead of a cell tower,
Gross said, “It is my understanding that DAS technology cannot be substituted
for cellular service in a stream valley with no existing utility poles.”
the BoS to consider distributed antenna systems instead of a cell tower,
Gross said, “It is my understanding that DAS technology cannot be substituted
for cellular service in a stream valley with no existing utility poles.”
She mentioned residents’ concerns that
the location of the tower next to the pool roadway and homes would create a
safety hazard due to lack of a buffer or safety zone. People who raised those
concerns cited codes from other states, which are not applicable here, she said.
the location of the tower next to the pool roadway and homes would create a
safety hazard due to lack of a buffer or safety zone. People who raised those
concerns cited codes from other states, which are not applicable here, she said.
Other concerns included the potential collapse
of a tower, ice fall, and noise. “While it is impossible to guarantee that
nothing will ever happen with a cell tower, the experience we’ve had in Fairfax
County during the past couple of decades
does not support these issues as reason for denial,” Gross said.
of a tower, ice fall, and noise. “While it is impossible to guarantee that
nothing will ever happen with a cell tower, the experience we’ve had in Fairfax
County during the past couple of decades
does not support these issues as reason for denial,” Gross said.
She noted that the staff report
recommended approval after careful review “for conformance with the
Comprehensive Plan, location, character and extent, urban forestry, and
stormwater management.” The staff report acknowledged “some visual impacts may not
be fully mitigated for some surrounding properties and recommended a graduated-paint
monopole rather than the originally proposed tree pole or ‘monopine.’”
recommended approval after careful review “for conformance with the
Comprehensive Plan, location, character and extent, urban forestry, and
stormwater management.” The staff report acknowledged “some visual impacts may not
be fully mitigated for some surrounding properties and recommended a graduated-paint
monopole rather than the originally proposed tree pole or ‘monopine.’”
Gross said she wanted to reconfirm with
staff that the pole will be limited to two carriers, noting “that will reduce some visual impact.” She also
said the Federal Communications Commission “will not require a blinking red
light at the top, which alleviates some of the concerns we heard in public
testimony.”
staff that the pole will be limited to two carriers, noting “that will reduce some visual impact.” She also
said the Federal Communications Commission “will not require a blinking red
light at the top, which alleviates some of the concerns we heard in public
testimony.”
According to Gross, several speakers
suggested the public benefits outweigh the visual impacts “and that we should
take into consideration the greater good in making our decision.” She recalled
a session she attended in June with the Federal Emergency Management Agency
about the need to have a telecommunications system that can manage “surge
capacity” in case of a weather disaster or human-caused emergency. “It is
imperative that we have additional coverage to connect our community,” she
said.
suggested the public benefits outweigh the visual impacts “and that we should
take into consideration the greater good in making our decision.” She recalled
a session she attended in June with the Federal Emergency Management Agency
about the need to have a telecommunications system that can manage “surge
capacity” in case of a weather disaster or human-caused emergency. “It is
imperative that we have additional coverage to connect our community,” she
said.
BoS Chair Sharon Bulova said she
supported approval of the decision, calling it “a safety issue.”
supported approval of the decision, calling it “a safety issue.”
The only other supervisor who spoke
about the cell tower was Linda Smyth (Providence), who suggested the county have
ongoing discussions with the telecommunications industry about better designs for cell facilities rather than
just deal with each proposal when it comes up.
about the cell tower was Linda Smyth (Providence), who suggested the county have
ongoing discussions with the telecommunications industry about better designs for cell facilities rather than
just deal with each proposal when it comes up.
“We need to be working with the
industry to come up with other options,” Smyth said. “Their tree poles still
look like green bottle brushes. In other parts of the country you can have something
that looks more like trees. So why can’t we get some of these things here?”
industry to come up with other options,” Smyth said. “Their tree poles still
look like green bottle brushes. In other parts of the country you can have something
that looks more like trees. So why can’t we get some of these things here?”
This is a good wise decision. 100 years ago there was no utility system populating the landscape. Today, the need for the services provided by these systems (e.g., power, communication, water) is essential, and therefore it is a reality that we need to accept the structures. There is no solid evidence based on comparable sales on record, that houses in the Northern Virginia region suffer statistically significant decrease in value because of the the location of new utility structures. Furthermore, the younger generation moving up and establishing families values very much having strong wireless signals and understand that having cell towers nearby ensure that signal. Buying a house with strong cell reception is a major plus for these families.
The reason Penny Gross voted in favor of the cell tower is because she does not give a damn. Linda Smyth did the same thing when she voted in favor of the cell tower on the Holmes Run Acres Recreation Association pool property. Despite the Smyth quote above about the "green bottle brushes," there is not a day that goes by that I don't see that god-awful structure, surrounding equipment, and ugly fencing at HRARA and say "how horrible it still looks." It is not a pine tree It does not fit in to the surrounding environment. I never will.
I feel extremely sad for the people of Parklawn. Especially the homes which will be forced to look at and deal with the negative consequences of yet another god-awful structure being slammed into their world. Maybe Penny will step up and buy the houses from the folks who can't sell now.
I dont fault Penelope Gross on this, I fault her peers.
there is no leadership on the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County. They vote the way the BOS district member votes , this is not an independent board at all and will be called to defend themselves in court to establish that over this vote…but there are many more that they co- inicide and decide the vote in advance. This is an example of one. you rub my back , I'll rub yours …that is the expression in fairfax BOS. Sharon Bulova you should resign for even entertaining this circus that went on . Penelope Gross is not at fault here…she was always in favor of this cell tower , even though she disregarded her obligations and oaths to vote accordingly to the county by laws , which she violated Article 9.
it is the other members of the BOS that were cowards and do not hold their oaths of office with much respect… they voted . It is done . Gods will