Application to build controversial cell tower at Palo Alto church dropped

By Jesse Dungan

Daily News Staff Writer

Posted: 04/19/2011 03:01:00 AM PDT

http://www.mercurynews.com

St. Albert the Great Church in Palo Alto is dropping out of a controversial proposal to erect a cell phone tower on its property, according to church and AT&T officials.

AT&T spokesman Lane Kasselman said the church told his company Monday that it is pulling a preliminary lease agreement.

"We're disappointed by the decision of St. Albert's to withdraw from negotiations for new infrastructure which would have brought increased wireless network coverage and capacity to area customers," Kasselman said in an email. "We're hopeful that we'll (be) able to find alternative solutions for the hundreds of supporters that need wireless coverage in the area."

Residents have raised concerns that the 50-foot tower at 1095 Channing Ave. would be a health hazard and lower property values. A couple hundred people voiced their fears at a community meeting in January.

Stephen Stuart, a resident who hooked the city up with Internet access more than a decade ago, even moved to ax the free connection because the proposal -- and the city's tentative approval -- upset him.

Roberta Ward, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of San Jose, which owns the St. Albert the Great property, confirmed Monday that the church had pulled out of the deal. She referred specific questions to the Rev. Matthew Stanley, but said the decision was made late last week. Stanley did not return a call for comment Monday.

Palo Alto Planning Director Curtis Williams said

AT&T notified the city Monday it would be sending a letter withdrawing the proposal. The project officially will be off the table once the city receives the letter, he said.

The project faced big hurdles despite winning tentative approval from the city's planning department. Earlier this month, the Architectural Review Board slammed the aesthetics of the "church-like" structure that would have housed the tower.

The Planning and Transportation Commission was also slated to consider an appeal on May 4 of the planning department's tentative approval, as well as to consider a height variance for the project. The cell tower would have been five feet taller than the 45-foot height limit in that part of town.

AT&T has argued that the tower is needed to support a growing demand for cell service in the neighborhood. The company will have to start from scratch and identify a new location for the tower, Kasselman said.

"We're disappointed," he said. "I think that the reality is we've got a lot of customers that need improved services and so despite these setbacks that are a result of a vocal minority, we still have to move forward."

Stuart's wife, Tru Love, who lives with Stuart across the street from St. Albert the Great said Monday she had not heard about the church's decision to spike the project.

"I won't believe that until I see it in writing," said Love, one of the project's most vocal opponents. "If it's true, then I'm ecstatic."

Email Jesse Dungan at jdungan@dailynewsgroup.com.