Trending
HOWLAND -- Plans for a Verizon cell tower near Howland Springs Elementary School received a unanimous approval for a conditional zoning certificate from the township's Board of Zoning Appeals at Thursday's administrative meeting.
Following a series of meetings and public outcry, plans for the 200-foot cell tower must go through the Trumbull County Building Department and the Federal Communications Commission, according to the township's Zoning Commission. The parcel approved for the tower totals 23.43 acres on the south side of Howland Springs Road SE.
"We were very disappointed," said Bruce Gump, a resident near the location and computer research professional. "It's a pity that the school board even signed the lease before any of us knew about it."
Gump attended the meeting Thursday after presenting his testimony to the board at a previous meeting.
"We presented the best information available to us and showed studies of telecommunications towers near residential homes, which always reduce property values. The board of appeals decided that the evidence was not substantial enough to deny Verizon's application."
The lot for the tower will stretch 10,000-square feet, 400 feet away from the school and about 360 feet from the nearest residence.
"Months ago, we allowed the potential lease by entering into contract with Verizon to give them permission," Dr. Ken Jones, Howland Board of Education president, said. "We had nothing to do with the zoning."
At a meeting Oct. 5, the board of appeals heard testimony and allowed questions, comments and concerns, which led many residents to address their health concerns revolving around the tower's placement near children. But board Chairman Brendan Keating explained, "An adjacent landowner could testify as to their concerns, but we can't consider it when making our decision."
Due to FCC regulations involving radio frequency emissions, potential health threats cannot be considered in the case. The FCC considered the radio frequency emissions from this particular tower much lower than the threshold, or maximum permitted.
Michael Sarris of RJP Consulting and Joe Cortese, an attorney representing Verizon, shared exhibits and testified to the board at the October meeting. They offered reasons for choosing the location, including wireless connectivity and coverage, reliability for residents and future gap coverage.
Cortese added, "Sites are built for two reasons. You have gaps in coverage, which we would submit, this is one of them.
"Additionally, it's a capacity issue. The network has to continue to reuse the signal, and for that to operate when you have multiple users, you're not just planning for today. You're planning for five years out, 10 years out."