The debate about whether AT&T can erect a 20-foot tower in the Buena Vista neighborhood is yet another chapter in a growing debate about how Walnut Creek and other communities deal with the proliferation of wireless communication antennas.
Buena Vista residents have said they plan to rally outside Walnut Creek's City Hall Tuesday, just before the regularly scheduled council meeting. They have several complaints, but their primary focus is the idea that the city is biased in favor of AT&T, which is proposing to erect a 20-foot cell phone tower on a knoll belonging to St. Stephen's Catholic Church.
This bias, residents say, largely comes because Ken Mintz, the AT&T executive in charge of pushing for cell phone towers in Contra Costa County, is chairman of the board of the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce and also serves on the board of directors of the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce.
Mintz's chamber ties, Buena Vista residents say, have raised concerns about "his involvement in local business organizations with close ties to the City Council in order to influence approval of cell-tower applications."
Opponents of AT&T's proposed tower claim they have experienced "ongoing bias" from city officials. The city, they say, has failed to follow up on "evidence of false information" that AT&T presented to the city. The city also has failed to address citizen requests to hire an independent consultant to evaluate less intrusive solutions, they claim.
Last fall, the City Council asked staff to commission an engineering study to look at whether the St. Stephen's property is the only place for AT&T to build an antenna to provide better cell phone coverage to residents of northwest Walnut Creek. At that meeting, the council decided to hold off on a moratorium on construction of cell-phone towers in the city. Before issuing the moratorium, council members wanted to see a work plan outlining when changes to the city's existing wireless ordinance could happen.
According to council members contacted Monday, the AT&T proposal for St. Stephen's church is still under review.
AT&T spokesman Lane Kasselman objected to the idea that Mintz's involvement in Walnut Creek's Chamber of Commerce gave him an unfair advantage or influence over city affairs:
“AT&T has been part of the Walnut Creek and San Ramon communities for decades," Kasselman said. "Thousands of our employees and their families live, work and play throughout the region. Our employees participate in service organizations, chambers of commerce, school boards, Little Leagues, Scout troops, PTAs, bake sales and almost every other type of civic engagement you would expect from active members of the community."
"AT&T and its employees are proud of their professional, and personal, commitments throughout Contra Costa County," he added.
The debate about the St. Stephen's proposal is yet another chapter in a growing debate about how Walnut Creek deals with the proliferation of wireless communication antennas. Like other communities, Walnut Creek faces a growing demand for faster, more efficient wireless service for cell phones, laptop computers and GPS monitors.
Buena Vista residents say AT&T's proposed tower at St. Stephen's Church would rise about 100 feet from nearby homes. Residents also are concerned about AT&T’s recent announcement that it will add 55 cell sites in the San Francisco Bay area in 2011.
“If cities do not require a rigorous, open and independent review of alternatives, there is the strong possibility of cell towers being installed in inappropriate locations," said Mardi Veiluva, leader of the Walnut Creek Buena Vista neighborhood group. “We need a balanced and transparent approach by cities to ensure that cell towers are installed in the least intrusive locations in order to preserve and protect our residential neighborhoods.”
Tuesday's protest will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday outside Walnut Creek City Hall, 1666 N. Main St.
No comments:
Post a Comment