09/09/1997 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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r I -, . ;4 the city is exenapt from following the zoning code. When a developer can locate on ciTy property, the city will try to negotiate it. Mr. McNamara stated that at least someone is trying to have a master plan on these new technologies. Mr. Dubelko advised that there is another ordinance being introduced dealing with these pedestals of Americast Cable to attempt to regulate them. Mr. McNamara questioned why tliese pedestals were needed when Cablevision did not have them ten years ago and wondered why the city did not require that they be buried. Mr. Dubelko stated that this is part of the requirements of the new ord.inance, but this tower is different in that it is on public property and must be heard by planning commission. He further advised that, if this board recommends this, it will be subject to approval by city council. Ms. Cox, a resident, appreciated the relocation of the tower out of her back yard, but as a health care provider has some concerns about it being located near the recreation center where children come to play. She has researched some health effects that have been shown in testing from radio frequency radiation (RFR) that is cause by cellular antennas such as, behavior mod.ification; effects on blood forming; immune systems; reproductive effects; changes in hormone levels; headache; irritability; fatigue; cardiovascular effects; and cancer. She quoted a study that showed DNA damage in rats after four hours of exposure; chromosome damage; changes in electrical activity of the brain; changes in euzyrne activity; and lymphoma which was found to be higher in exposed mice. She believed that these were profound findings as far as radiation effect from cellular antennas. She would not like to be exposed to this in her own backyard, nor in her homebound neighbors backyards who would be exposed to this 24 hours a day. There are risks coming from the portable cellular telephone, electro- magnetic interference. A study by an employee of the EPA showed nerve damage. Since there is also radio frequency interference with electronic equipment, will this cause problems with a computer or telephones. She believed that it did cause problems since the; FCC has advised that these companies have to pay to correct this problem up to a year after the installation of the pole. There have been studies in New Zealand and California where they have made a policy that these poles cannot be located within schools or where children congregate. From what she has heard from both meetings is that Nextel's businesses is raising their operating income, but she is hearing nothing regarding the health of the community. Mr. Mahala, a resident, did not receive notification of neighborhood meeting and believed that others had not; he maintained that this meeting should be held over again. He thought that this tower wou.ld have to be painted orange and white with obstruction lights on top since its location is right off the approach of one of the airport runways. He was told by workers that the tower at Clague Park would have to be painted orange and white. He noted that both apartment buildings at 190 or 200 feet have obstruction lights on them. He objected to the city providing real estate for commercial concerns, and thought that park lands should be set aside for the residents. He is concerned that the city might be required to provide tliat land for commercial use in the future. He thought that there were many commercial areas that might be more appropriate since the recreation center is in the middle of a residential district. He believed that there could be-land lines connecting the tower in order to_.lower the height of the tower. Mr. Dudak, a resident, was opposed to the use of public lands for private benefit. He chose tlris area because it was adjoining recreational land and commercial establishments could not be built on it. He was concerned since some people had not attended the original meeting, and the loeation of this proposal had been changed and presented yesterday. There may be people who would be concerned about this location who were not opposed to the original, but they are unaware of the change. He believed that the residents were brow beaten by the developers who stated that there was a preemptive right by any cellular carrier or telecommunications company to construct a tower and the city had no right to prevent it. The Telecommunications Act of 1996, Section 704, leaves the location of this type tower up to the city who can prevent it, if they do not urireasonably restrict cellular location in the city. Since a tower was allowed at Clague, he did not believe that the city would be restricting communications. He suggested that Nextel approach AT&T about raising the tower to 150 feet. He would like explanations from an engineer as to why other locations; -Clague tower, the mall,- and the - 6