Prairie Village Rejects Cell Tower

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Prairie Village Rejects Cell Tower
Council Shoots Down T-Mobile's Latest Proposal

POSTED: 10:58 am CDT May 5, 2009
UPDATED: 11:48 am CDT May 5, 2009

PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. -- The Prairie Village City Council voted 8 to 4 late Monday night to support a planning commission recommendation and reject T-Mobile's latest proposal to build a cell phone tower there.

Dozens of residents flocked to a rally Monday to protest the proposal.

Some of the 50 or so residents who filled the city council chambers at a meeting Monday have been fighting the issue for more than a year.

"Everyone needs better cell service," resident Charlotte White said. "But I chose Prairie Village for its community and its beauty, and I don't want it to turn ugly because of cell phone towers everywhere."

T-Mobile had proposed building a tower on the property of Faith Lutheran Church at West 67th Street and Roe Avenue. The proposal calls for an 85-foot tower with room to expand it up to 145 feet.

That's the latest of three proposals from the wireless giant, all of which have been rejected by the city's planning commission.

"It's almost like they're beating us down," resident Patricia Archer said. "It feels like bullying."

The last time T-Mobile proposed a tower in a residential area, the council voted against overriding the planning commission's suggestion, and T-Mobile, in turn, filed suit against the city.

Residents urged the council to stand firm.

"Start a legal defense fund," resident Casey Housley said. "I'll contribute a thousand dollars tonight. Don't vote because of fear of a lawsuit."