West Side Story:
Company takes step back after pressure from residents
Posted: April 9, 2012 1:55 a.m.
Updated: April 9, 2012 1:55 a.m.
|
|||||
Due to public backlash, a wireless phone company has
suspended plans to place a cellular tower on the West Side of town.
"We're not moving forward with the placement of this
one facility, but we're not suspending all operations in the Stevenson Ranch
area," T-Mobile spokesman Clark Harris said.
The issue had been simmering since November, when T-Mobile
announced plans to place wireless antennae and equipment at the corner of Poe
Parkway and Mallory Drive.
The wireless facility would have been an unobtrusive
series of communications equipment placed on a pole, Harris said, but the
public outcry against it was swift and immediate.
"At first, we wanted to place a wireless facility at
that intersection, but due to public comment we then explored placing that
facility near a water tower on Sandburn Place," Harris said.
However, a portion of Sandburn Place leading to the water
tower is owned by the Stevenson Ranch Homeowners Association, and T-Mobile
officials were unable to come to an agreement with the property owner, Harris
said.
"We just decided that pursuing the issue wasn't in
the best interest of all parties concerned," he said. "We decided
to step back and re-evaluate the situation."
"We were very appreciative of the responsible
reactions of T-Mobile's agents in the end," Stevenson Ranch resident
Bill Barritt said.
West Side residents opposing cellular infrastructure will
continue to argue against cellphone towers being placed in their
neighborhoods, he said.
"West Ranch is largely undeveloped in the wireless
transmission aspect and it is clear that the wireless providers are not going
away," Barritt said. "In my sole opinion, the aesthetics of the
neighborhood should be maintained in keeping with the (Stevenson Ranch
Homeowners Association rules) in concert with future community standards for
development to ensure everyone's rights and privileges are kept intact as
they were when they purchased their home."
Along with issues of aesthetics, health concerns were
brought to the debate.
Stevenson Ranch resident Karen Shapiro said she was
concerned about radiation contamination.
"Cellphones are not essential - they're a
luxury," Shapiro said.
Future plans
Slowly but surely, cellphones are replacing home
computers, Harris said.
"We are seeing more and more wireless use from
homes," Harris said. "That wireless use is not just for cellphone
calls, but also to search for data. If we can't provide the cellular
infrastructure, communities will lack the opportunity to use the
service."
Unless cellular technology becomes obsolete, there will
always be a need for wireless infrastructure in any residential area, Harris
said.
"We're committed to providing that coverage but we
want to work with the community in doing so," he said.
Still, some West Side residents will most likely balk at
any future plans to place wireless facilities in their neighborhoods.
"We're delighted to see it resolved, as it was a bad
idea on T-Mobile's part," Shapiro said. "It took an enormous amount
of effort on the part of our community to do the research, meet with each
other, our homeowners association, the (West Ranch) Town Council and county
officials. We had to educate ourselves and our community leaders."
rbowden@the-signal.com
661-287-5518
|
|||||
No comments:
Post a Comment