Cell tower proposed for Stuart HS

Plans are moving
forward for a cell tower at JEB Stuart High School in Falls Church. AT&T
and Milestone Communications have filed an application with the Fairfax County
Department of Planning and Zoning, and the Fairfax County Planning Commission
is expected to schedule a public hearing in October.

The proposal calls
for a 100-foot pole in a spot occupied by a stadium light with a new
light mounted on the pole.

There are 18 stadium
lights that are about 70 to 80 feet tall. “The intent is to have the cell tower
blend in with the existing light poles,” says Cristian Hernandez, project
manager with Milestone Communications. The additional equipment associated with
the cell tower would be concealed under the bleachers.

A community meeting was held in May at the Mason
District Government Center. Hernandez says 660 postcards were mailed
to residents inviting them to the meeting and only four people showed up.

There isn’t much opposition, if any, to
the cell tower within the Ravenwood Park or Barcroft View neighborhoods.
Ravenwood Park Citizens Association President John Iekel says it is needed
because the community has spotty cell service. He says it would be barely visible
from the vast majority of homes.

Some residents of the Lafayette Park Condominium, however, have
a different perspective, as it would be clearly visible from their windows and are concerned about declining property values. The condo’s HOA hasn’t yet
taken an official position, however.  

AT&T will
provide Stuart with a $25,000 one-time access fee, a percentage on the monthly
revenue, plus $5,000 for additional carriers that might locate on the pole in
the future, says Hernandez.
The pole could support two additional carriers.