Verizon drops cell phone tower plan in Idaho Town

[Andy]

Verizon drops cell phone tower plan

Proposed site near school had drawn complaints

Meghann M. Cuniff
Staff writer
May 5, 2007

Verizon Wireless on Friday scrapped plans to place a cell phone tower at Lake City High School following a conversation between Verizon representatives and Coeur d'Alene School District officials.

The wireless phone company had been working for more than a year on a proposal to place a 115-foot tower near the school's football field to help improve cell service in the area.

The final proposal was to be considered by the Coeur d'Alene Planning Commission at its meeting next Tuesday. But a flurry of complaints to the school district about the visibility of the tower and possible health effects from cell phone radiation prompted the district and Verizon to rescind the proposal this week and rework it.


The height was dropped from 115 feet to 100, and a Verizon representative said the tower would be constructed to resemble a flag pole to address visibility concerns. Also, the proposed location was moved closer to the school, from the west end of the football field to the east, so it could blend in better with the building and lights.

But the complaints continued, and the school district said Friday afternoon it had ditched the proposal completely.

"The school district received input from people who live near Lake City High and took those concerns to heart. We are pleased by the cooperation of Verizon Wireless to withdraw the project," Superintendent Harry Amend said in the release. He could not be reached for further comment.

Verizon spokeswoman Georgia Taylor said it's not uncommon for tower plans to change because of community concerns. "We'll go back and evaluate our options now," Taylor said.

Even with the reduction, the height of the proposed tower exceeded regulations for the area by about 57 feet. The project would have needed a height variance from the city and a special-use permit to place the tower on the site, which is in a residential zone.

While the district said most complaints centered on the visibility of the tower, a couple of people expressed concern about the health effects the tower might have on students at Lake City and nearby Woodland Middle and Skyway Elementary schools.

Verizon would have paid the district about $1,000 a month for use of the land at Lake City.

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/idaho....asp?ID=188175

[Andy]

I can't believe how people turn down $1,000 per month that would help their cities and school districts because of a flag pole...that is just ridiculous. In my area, cell towers or panels on school property and on school buildings are very, very common and it makes sense- gives the school district some extra cash for basically nothing.

[nmt]

As they say "Ignorance is Bliss".

This happened to Cell One in early 1991 when we had to take down an entire fully operational 100' monopole w/ microwave & fully sectored. It was because the neighbors were concerned of the "Radiation from the ....... (now get this).........not the cell antennas but from the high performance, highly directionalized microwave antenna!

I still have the picture they took of me & my workmate on the pole, I'll post it.
It was in the Sacramento Bee newspaper.


Curt
www.nmandt.com

[Andy]

Originally Posted by nmt

As they say "Ignorance is Bliss".

This happened to Cell One in early 1991 when we had to take down an entire fully operational 100' monopole w/ microwave & fully sectored. It was because the neighbors were concerned of the "Radiation from the ....... (now get this).........not the cell antennas but from the high performance, highly directionalized microwave antenna!

I still have the picture they took of me & my workmate on the pole, I'll post it.
It was in the Sacramento Bee newspaper.


Curt
www.nmandt.com

Wow, that is ridiculous! Did the lease of the tower run out and was not renewed or how did it get as far that the tower had to be taken down?

[nmt]

Andy,
I'm not sure about that detail. Good question.

Curt
ww.nmandt.com

[nmt]

Here it is.

Curt
Nevada Microwave & Tower

[Andy]

Originally Posted by nmt

Here it is.

Curt
Nevada Microwave & Tower

Haha, nice picture.
I can't believe how paranoid people are about cell sites. Electronics in their own homes pose greater danger than a cell site next door.

[WumpusVA]

Unbelievable. 1,000 a month could have paid for some great things for that school…

[NokiaKrazy]

Wish a cell company wanted to place a tower on my property. I could use a $1000 a month or so.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by NokiaKrazy

Wish a cell company wanted to place a tower on my property. I could use a $1000 a month or so.

Haha, seriously, I would let them built as many towers as they want on my property.

[Raggnarok]

Originally Posted by Andy

Verizon drops cell phone tower plan

Proposed site near school had drawn complaints

Meghann M. Cuniff
Staff writer
May 5, 2007

Verizon Wireless on Friday scrapped plans to place a cell phone tower at Lake City High School following a conversation between Verizon representatives and Coeur d'Alene School District officials.

The wireless phone company had been working for more than a year on a proposal to place a 115-foot tower near the school's football field to help improve cell service in the area.

The final proposal was to be considered by the Coeur d'Alene Planning Commission at its meeting next Tuesday. But a flurry of complaints to the school district about the visibility of the tower and possible health effects from cell phone radiation prompted the district and Verizon to rescind the proposal this week and rework it.


The height was dropped from 115 feet to 100, and a Verizon representative said the tower would be constructed to resemble a flag pole to address visibility concerns. Also, the proposed location was moved closer to the school, from the west end of the football field to the east, so it could blend in better with the building and lights.

But the complaints continued, and the school district said Friday afternoon it had ditched the proposal completely.

"The school district received input from people who live near Lake City High and took those concerns to heart. We are pleased by the cooperation of Verizon Wireless to withdraw the project," Superintendent Harry Amend said in the release. He could not be reached for further comment.

Verizon spokeswoman Georgia Taylor said it's not uncommon for tower plans to change because of community concerns. "We'll go back and evaluate our options now," Taylor said.

Even with the reduction, the height of the proposed tower exceeded regulations for the area by about 57 feet. The project would have needed a height variance from the city and a special-use permit to place the tower on the site, which is in a residential zone.

While the district said most complaints centered on the visibility of the tower, a couple of people expressed concern about the health effects the tower might have on students at Lake City and nearby Woodland Middle and Skyway Elementary schools.

Verizon would have paid the district about $1,000 a month for use of the land at Lake City.

The Spokesman-Review.com

Well I l,ive in this town and I can tell you that their are some freaked out Yuppie larva living around here. They are afraid Cell Phone towers will ham their little genius. Who by the way will most likely get a Tumor from a Cell phone more than a Tower.
But Coeur D'Alene has been run over by California tree huggers and I dont see an end to it. No common sense freaks.