Politics & Government

No Decision On Proposed T-Mobile Phone Tower

Testimony resumes in May.

SPRINGFIELD–Following hours of technical testimony from experts called by T-Mobile and pointed questions from officials and members of the public, the Springfield Board of Adjustments hearing over a proposed cell phone tower ended without a conclusion.

Testimony will resume at the next Board of Adjustments meeting on May 25.

Summit residents and officials have . The tower would be built on property owned by the Knights of Columbus near the Springfield/Summit border. Summit residents crowded Springfield's town hall to express their concerns over the tower.

Find out what's happening in Summitwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ben Shidfar, a telecommunications expert contracted by T-Mobile, . At the previous meeting, Board members had suggested a water tower in Mountainside as an alternative location. Shidfar said the Mountainside location would not adequately provide a signal to the area T-Mobile needs covered.

“It will not do the job the Knights of Columbus would do,” Shidfar said.

Find out what's happening in Summitwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

T-Mobile is seeking to provide coverage of a section of Route 78 that is in a valley between two peaks. Shidfar said the electromagnetic signal transmitted by a tower at that height and location would not provide sufficient coverage for Route 78. In response to questions by Summit resident John Li, Shidfar said T-Mobile users would not be able to use enhanced 911 service in those locations, and emergency services would be therefore unable to use their mobile devices to locate them in accidents.

Todd Hay, an engineer contracted by T-Mobile, provided testimony about how the immediate area around the tower would be impacted. The area’s tree canopy, Hay said, would cover approximately the bottom half of the cell phone tower. He said that the tower’s design minimized its safety risk to the surrounding area.

Board members and residents raised concerns that the tower would be problematic for emergency helicopter flights in the area. In open questions, residents said that the neighborhood, near 78, is often buzzed by emergency helicopters, and worries that the tower would need to be lit so that it would not be a hazard for helicopters.

Timothy Kronk, an engineer contracted by T-Mobile, presented some visual guides to how the tower would appear based on weather balloon test performed by T-Mobile in July of 2010.

The hearing ended at 11 p.m., the time when testimony is legally required to end. Board of Adjustments chair Margaret Bandrowski said that residents would probably be able to give their opinions and present evidence at the May 25 meeting.

Summit Councilman and candidate for Mayor Michael Vernotico attended the meeting to support his constituents in East Summit in their opposition to the proposed tower. He expressed cautious optimism about the proceedings.

“I’m encouraged by the questions the board members are asking,” Vernotico said.


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