Cell phone tower proposed for Marianna, FL- NIMBY Alert

Cell phone tower proposed for Marianna

By KATE McCARDELL
Jackson County Floridan
September 18, 2007

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The construction of a 195-foot Verizon Wireless phone tower has been proposed in Marianna and some residents are questioning whether the tower might be an unsightly feature for the city's downtown area.

Officials of the city have been notified of the proposal, but according to planning and development director Kay Dennis, Verizon has not yet submitted any applications for the project, which would be located in the vicinity of Mowry Elevator Company.

The tower would occupy a ground area of approximately 100 by 100 feet and looks similar to that of a flag pole with guide wires. It would be visible from downtown Marianna, including the future sight of the Performing Arts Park at the corner of Madison and Lafayette streets.

A legal notice from Verizon appeared in the Jackson County Floridan on Aug. 26 seeking "comments from all interested persons on the impact of the tower on any districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or culture that are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register for Historic Places."

Dynamic Environmental Associates Inc. was hired by Verizon to research possible effects on environmental, historical or cultural entities near the proposed sight of construction.

According to Dynamic's general manager, Tracy Brittain, the Federal Communications Commission requires that cell phones towers not be located within one-half mile of a historic district or structure.

Most of downtown Marianna is a historic district.

Brittain said letters concerning the proposal have been sent to the city, to Jackson County and to the Florida Historical Society.

She said that eight Native American tribes with interest in the area have also been consulted, as required by the FCC.

The public has until Sept. 25 to voice concerns.

According to the legal notice, correspondence should be directed to Virginia Janssen, Principal Archaeologist, Dynamic Environmental Associates Inc., 3850 Lake St., Suite C., Macon, GA 31204. Or emails may be sent to Sec106@DynamicEnvironmental.com.

 

Who cares if a cell phone tower is visible from a historic cities' downtown or not? Times have changed and cell phones are part of our daily lives, and cell towers are part of that. As long as there are not huge panels hanging down a historic building, who cares?

 

ALLTEL really seems to have an awesome network in the areas they are licensed to in FL.