“Another MTZ T-Mobile cell phone tower?” |
| Another MTZ T-Mobile cell phone tower? Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:39 PM PST Residents appear at Planning Commission study session to protest Staff Reporter December 16, 2010 On the heels of recent Planning Commission approval of a T-Mobile cell phone tower upgrade in one area of town, this week the Commission held a study session to explore T-Mobile's request to build another tower several blocks away. Citing the need to provide more coverage ability as residents increasing opt to phase out landlines in favor of mobile phones, T-Mobile representative Jeff Lienert told the Commissioners on Tuesday evening he was filling in for a sick colleague; the name Karen Lienert appears on all associated application documents from T-Mobile. Lienert specified that there is "way more demand than the network can handle;" thus the company is seeking to build an 85-foot 'monopine tower,' or a tower that is meant to look like a real pine tree at 100 Church Street. The property is owned by Martinez United Methodist Church, and is a 3.30 acre parcel. On it are two church buildings, a playground and a preschool. Since the property is zoned residential, both a use permit and design review is required by the City for the installation of such wireless facilities. According to a written request from Karen Lienert dated February 5, 2010, "T-Mobile has a need for improved coverage in the Martinez area and specifically in the residential area around Tahoe Circle…T-Mobile respectfully requests that this application be considered for the installation of an 85' tall monopine tower with nine panel antennas to be installed at the top of the monopine. T-Mobile will install associated radio cabinets and the total lease area will be 30 feet by 20 feet and will be enclosed with a chain link fence." On Sept. 28, the Commission approved the company's request to build a 12-foot-eight antenna wireless telecommunications facility atop an existing 121-foot PG&E structure at 5000 Hiller Lane, on the 2.7 acre-property of the Concord Korean Baptist Church. The T-Mobile addition will bring the tower, which also sports Sprint/Nextel equipment, to total height of 133 feet. Hiller Lane is a private street off of Arnold Drive, just north of Hwy 4. This week's application involves a neighborhood roughly 2.5 miles away, on the southern side of Hwy. 4 and directly adjacent to Nancy Boyd Park. Unlike the earlier Planning Commission hearing on the Korean Baptist site installations, this week a number of residents appeared in opposition of the plan. After going back and forth for some time between contentious public comment and responses from T-Mobile, Chair Donna Allen expressed concern about the order of proceedings as an unnamed resident approached the podium. "I'm not sure how study sessions work so this is kinda all new to us, but a study session to me means…the community gets together, hears what he is proposing, we all have questions walking into the meeting, and I don't necessarily know I have a question to fill out a card, but as we are discussing..questions come up," she said. "[Lienert] said he's going to put up redwood trees but the tower is 85 feet tall, how long is going to take those redwood trees to grow and hide that. He's says he has a need for more coverage in this area. Well, I don't have T-Mobile and my cell phone works great with Sprint, and Verizon was mentioned, so is there…proof that there is a need with this company for another tower in this area, or is this just a gimmick by the company, so that they may advertise more coverage?"
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