Mason residents disagree about need for cell tower at Parklawn pool
 |
| Parklawn resident Michael Gates of PACACT argues against putting up a cell tower at the Parklawn pool. |
As people for and against the proposed cell tower at the
Parklawn pool argued their positions at a lively meeting of the Mason District Land Use Committee March 26, it basically boiled down to aesthetics vs.
coverage.
Parklawn pool argued their positions at a lively meeting of the Mason District Land Use Committee March 26, it basically boiled down to aesthetics vs.
coverage.
People who live close to where the tower would be
constructed called it an eyesore that would degrade the neighborhood, while
those who support it (and generally live farther away) argued that cell service
is crucial, especially when there’s an emergency.
constructed called it an eyesore that would degrade the neighborhood, while
those who support it (and generally live farther away) argued that cell service
is crucial, especially when there’s an emergency.
According to AT&T representative Ed Donohue, the tower
is needed to address capacity issues—due to skyrocketing data use—as well as filling gaps where there is no coverage.
is needed to address capacity issues—due to skyrocketing data use—as well as filling gaps where there is no coverage.
The MDLUC did not have a quorum—only four of its seven
members were present—so the group deferred taking a position on the issue. [The
committee also deferred action on a proposal for infill development on Peace
Valley Lane; we’ll report on that in a future blog post.]
members were present—so the group deferred taking a position on the issue. [The
committee also deferred action on a proposal for infill development on Peace
Valley Lane; we’ll report on that in a future blog post.]
MDLUC Chair Daniel Aminoff said that if the cell tower
proposal is on the agenda of the May 22 Fairfax County Planning Commission meeting, the MDLUC will vote on it April 23. If the Planning Commission
hears the proposal in June, which appears to be more likely at this point, the
MDLUC will consider it May 28. If the Planning Commission approves a project, the next
step is a vote by the Board of Supervisors.
proposal is on the agenda of the May 22 Fairfax County Planning Commission meeting, the MDLUC will vote on it April 23. If the Planning Commission
hears the proposal in June, which appears to be more likely at this point, the
MDLUC will consider it May 28. If the Planning Commission approves a project, the next
step is a vote by the Board of Supervisors.
MDLUC votes are non-binding, although the committee can ask
a developer to revise a project proposal to make it more palatable to community residents.
a developer to revise a project proposal to make it more palatable to community residents.
AT&T rejects alternatives
When the MDLUC heard the cell tower proposal in February,
the committee complained that Donohue failed to present maps pinpointing where
cell coverage is lacking and failed to describe alternative sites for the tower. So this
time, Donohue showed a series of slides illustrating how the Parklawn location and alternative sites would fill the gap in cell service.
the committee complained that Donohue failed to present maps pinpointing where
cell coverage is lacking and failed to describe alternative sites for the tower. So this
time, Donohue showed a series of slides illustrating how the Parklawn location and alternative sites would fill the gap in cell service.
According to AT&T engineer Shashi Sena, none of the
alternative sites—including Peace Lutheran Church, Dowden Terrace, William Ramsey Elementary School, Glasgow Middle School, and the Fountains of Alexandria condominiums—would provide as much coverage as the Parklawn pool. Some of the sites appear to cover the area, but AT&T doesn’t consider
them feasible. The city of Alexandria is not likely to allow a cell tower at Ramsey,
for example.
alternative sites—including Peace Lutheran Church, Dowden Terrace, William Ramsey Elementary School, Glasgow Middle School, and the Fountains of Alexandria condominiums—would provide as much coverage as the Parklawn pool. Some of the sites appear to cover the area, but AT&T doesn’t consider
them feasible. The city of Alexandria is not likely to allow a cell tower at Ramsey,
for example.
In response to Parklawn residents’ complaints that
disguising the cell tower as a tree would make it even more of an eyesore,
Donohue showed pictures of what it would like as a bare pole. Those pictures, however, didn’t show what it would look like if additional cell carriers were added.
disguising the cell tower as a tree would make it even more of an eyesore,
Donohue showed pictures of what it would like as a bare pole. Those pictures, however, didn’t show what it would look like if additional cell carriers were added.
The majority of members of the Parklawn Recreation Association support the tower, said PRA President Heath Brown. Improved
cellular service would lead to more business investments in the area and
improve safety by ensuring access to emergency services to report crime and
suspicious activity. He also said the
additional revenue the tower would bring to the PRA would “prevent the pool
from becoming a troublesome eyesore.”
cellular service would lead to more business investments in the area and
improve safety by ensuring access to emergency services to report crime and
suspicious activity. He also said the
additional revenue the tower would bring to the PRA would “prevent the pool
from becoming a troublesome eyesore.”
Out of character
Michael Gates of PACACT (Parklawn Area Citizens Against Cell
Towers) argued against the cell tower, calling at a 13-story “industrial
structure” that would rise 50 to 75 feet above the tree line and be “out of
character for an established, residential neighborhood.”
Towers) argued against the cell tower, calling at a 13-story “industrial
structure” that would rise 50 to 75 feet above the tree line and be “out of
character for an established, residential neighborhood.”
According to Gates, crime is not a problem in the park area
near the pool. He cited police reports showing only four incidents since 2010. The
tower itself would be a safety issue if it falls down during a storm, he noted.
near the pool. He cited police reports showing only four incidents since 2010. The
tower itself would be a safety issue if it falls down during a storm, he noted.
A resident of Teton Place said the tower would loom over the
backyard of the house he bought in August. “If I knew about this tower, I would
have walked away,” he said.
backyard of the house he bought in August. “If I knew about this tower, I would
have walked away,” he said.
In response to concerns raised about RF emissions from the
tower, Donohue said evaluations show the emissions would be well below
acceptable standards. The MDLUC doesn’t consider health issues, anyway; it’s
only concerned with land use issues, said Aminoff.
tower, Donohue said evaluations show the emissions would be well below
acceptable standards. The MDLUC doesn’t consider health issues, anyway; it’s
only concerned with land use issues, said Aminoff.
Lack of cell coverage
Cell tower supporter Austin Bozarth, a resident of Heywood
Glen, complained that he needs three Wi-Fi hubs in his house because it’s at a
lower elevation and there is no cell coverage. He’s also concerned about the safety
of people walking in the park because he’s seen naked men and piles of beer
cans there.
Glen, complained that he needs three Wi-Fi hubs in his house because it’s at a
lower elevation and there is no cell coverage. He’s also concerned about the safety
of people walking in the park because he’s seen naked men and piles of beer
cans there.
“If Heywood Glen has a coverage problem, why not put the
tower there?” someone in the audience suggested. That won’t work because the
area is a floodplain, someone else said.
tower there?” someone in the audience suggested. That won’t work because the
area is a floodplain, someone else said.
Becky Choi, one of the founders of PACACT, said expressed confusion about whether the tower is really needed. AT&T’s map showing consumer complaints
doesn’t indicate when the complaints were logged or what they were for, she
noted.
doesn’t indicate when the complaints were logged or what they were for, she
noted.
Someone else proposed AT&T conduct a drive-through
evaluation to pinpoint exactly where there is currently no coverage. Donohue said
that could be done but he insisted the “predictive test” already conducted, and
reflected in the slides, provides better results.
evaluation to pinpoint exactly where there is currently no coverage. Donohue said
that could be done but he insisted the “predictive test” already conducted, and
reflected in the slides, provides better results.