Board of Zoning Appeals delays decision on Parklawn cell tower
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| A cell tower in Gilbert’s Corner, Va., with a graduated paint scheme like the one proposed for the Parklawn pool. |
The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) heard the
rezoning request to allow construction of a cell tower on property owned by the
Parklawn Recreation Association (PRA) July 17 but deferred a decision until July 31.
rezoning request to allow construction of a cell tower on property owned by the
Parklawn Recreation Association (PRA) July 17 but deferred a decision until July 31.
BZA
member James Hart proposed deferring a decision because the members didn’t
receive all the emails submitted by the public until that morning, due to a
computer glitch, and he wanted to make sure the members have enough time to read
them.
member James Hart proposed deferring a decision because the members didn’t
receive all the emails submitted by the public until that morning, due to a
computer glitch, and he wanted to make sure the members have enough time to read
them.
The July 31 meeting, at the Fairfax
County Government Center at 9 a.m., will be open to the public. There won’t be an opportunity
for additional speakers but the BZA will accept comments submitted online in advance.
Last week, the Fairfax County Planning Commission voted to
recommend the Board of Supervisors (BOS) approve the cell tower. The BOS hearing hasn’t
been scheduled yet.
recommend the Board of Supervisors (BOS) approve the cell tower. The BOS hearing hasn’t
been scheduled yet.
During the BZA hearing, supporters of the cell tower, many
of them residents of the Lincolnia Hills/Heywood Glen community who belong to
the PRA, presented the same arguments they’ve made at previous meetings: The
cell tower is needed because there are gaps in cell phone coverage, and it’s a safety
issue if people are unable to call emergency services in the case of a medical emergency or criminal activity.
of them residents of the Lincolnia Hills/Heywood Glen community who belong to
the PRA, presented the same arguments they’ve made at previous meetings: The
cell tower is needed because there are gaps in cell phone coverage, and it’s a safety
issue if people are unable to call emergency services in the case of a medical emergency or criminal activity.
BZA member Nancy Gibb, however, said coverage is not an issue for the
BZA. “The only thing we’re concerned with is whether it fits in and if it’s
harmonious with the neighborhood,” she said, and
suggested the tower would adversely affect nearby properties.
BZA. “The only thing we’re concerned with is whether it fits in and if it’s
harmonious with the neighborhood,” she said, and
suggested the tower would adversely affect nearby properties.
Another BZA member, Max Beard, acknowledged that he came to
the meeting ready to rubber-stamp the tower then indicated he saw it in a
different light.
the meeting ready to rubber-stamp the tower then indicated he saw it in a
different light.
Those comments left Becky
Choi, a cell tower opponent who lives near the proposed site, “very hopeful.”
Choi, a cell tower opponent who lives near the proposed site, “very hopeful.”
“For the first time, people were willing to listen to us,
and their minds were not already made up,” said Choi, a member of a group
formed to fight the tower called PACACT (Parklawn Area Citizens Against Cell
Towers).
and their minds were not already made up,” said Choi, a member of a group
formed to fight the tower called PACACT (Parklawn Area Citizens Against Cell
Towers).
Gibb also questioned AT&T representative Ed Donohue
about the simulated photos he submitted showing how the tower would look from
various locations. Opponents of the tower had complained those photos are deceptive by deliberately
minimizing its visual impact.
about the simulated photos he submitted showing how the tower would look from
various locations. Opponents of the tower had complained those photos are deceptive by deliberately
minimizing its visual impact.
Among those who urged the BZA to approve the tower were PRA
President Heath Brown, who said 190 people signed a petition in support of it. It
will improve local business opportunities by improving cellular and data access
and will enhance safety by allowing reliable cell service along the Holmes Run
path, which had been used by criminals as a hiding place, he said.
President Heath Brown, who said 190 people signed a petition in support of it. It
will improve local business opportunities by improving cellular and data access
and will enhance safety by allowing reliable cell service along the Holmes Run
path, which had been used by criminals as a hiding place, he said.
Austin Bozearth focused on the problems caused by lack of
cell coverage for people who work from home, Ivy Sinaiko said poor cell service
is a security issue during storms
when landlines are down, and Susan Fernandez talked about encountering scary
situations on the trail and being unable to call 911.
cell coverage for people who work from home, Ivy Sinaiko said poor cell service
is a security issue during storms
when landlines are down, and Susan Fernandez talked about encountering scary
situations on the trail and being unable to call 911.
While many of the supporters live in the Lincolnia Hills/Heywood Glen community, Heywood Glen resident Kevin Prestwich spoke against it. He said
the proposal is inconsistent with provisions in the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan that call for cellular facilities to be co-located on existing structures,
that recommend the use of microcell technologies, and that discourage towers that would
have a negative visual impact or would be out of character with the
surrounding area.
the proposal is inconsistent with provisions in the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan that call for cellular facilities to be co-located on existing structures,
that recommend the use of microcell technologies, and that discourage towers that would
have a negative visual impact or would be out of character with the
surrounding area.
Another opponent, Rob Stapleton of Teton Place, said he
wouldn’t have purchased his home if he knew a 128-foot tower would be built
close by. He said he has no problem with cell service. “will destroy my quiet
enjoyment of my home,” just to generate revenue for the PRA.
wouldn’t have purchased his home if he knew a 128-foot tower would be built
close by. He said he has no problem with cell service. “will destroy my quiet
enjoyment of my home,” just to generate revenue for the PRA.
Teton Place homeowner Brian Dwyer called it an “aesthetic
nightmare” that will “totally destroy our views from both the front and rear of our property,” and “will loom large and be omnipresent in the open sky.”
nightmare” that will “totally destroy our views from both the front and rear of our property,” and “will loom large and be omnipresent in the open sky.”
Steve Barrett, who lives on Crater Place next door
to the tower site, urged the BZA to reject the tower because “it would
negatively impact our quality of life,” diminish his enjoyment of the park and
wildlife, and “compromise our house’s resale potential.”
to the tower site, urged the BZA to reject the tower because “it would
negatively impact our quality of life,” diminish his enjoyment of the park and
wildlife, and “compromise our house’s resale potential.”
“Due to the unique topography of the area and the
location of our house, we will see the entire tower, and its shadow, and hear
the noise 365 days a year. We will look down on the equipment, so no amount of
screening will hide it,” he said.
location of our house, we will see the entire tower, and its shadow, and hear
the noise 365 days a year. We will look down on the equipment, so no amount of
screening will hide it,” he said.
The supporters of the tower only use the Parklawn pool
during the summer while a third of the PRA members don’t even live in Fairfax
County, Barrett argued. “This is benefiting people in Alexandria—in another tax
district—and that’s where the complaints about cell coverage are coming from.”
during the summer while a third of the PRA members don’t even live in Fairfax
County, Barrett argued. “This is benefiting people in Alexandria—in another tax
district—and that’s where the complaints about cell coverage are coming from.”
Zoya Melnichenko, who also lives on Crater Place, told the BZA that she left her home in Ukraine
to get away from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster
site. She then had breast cancer and path to recovery includes
sitting outside and enjoying the woods. She wouldn’t be able to do that, she
said tearfully, with a cell tower overshadowing her home and yard.
to get away from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster
site. She then had breast cancer and path to recovery includes
sitting outside and enjoying the woods. She wouldn’t be able to do that, she
said tearfully, with a cell tower overshadowing her home and yard.