Cell Tower
- Thread starter BigDave
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AndyR
Gold Member
Dave - Cell towers got guaranteed placement care of your congressman in 1992 with the Communications Act of '92 - a sweetheart deal for the telecom industry. Here in New Hampshire we have had moderate success in restricting placement through the use of Telecommunications Overlay Zones and other zoning methods. Try as you might you cannot ban cell towers outright. You can (to the best of my knowledge) designate certain areas (like commercial/industrial zones) where they can be placed but the key to that is having your zoning in place *before* the cell company files an application. Your best defense is to be involved in local government - serve on a planning or zoning board, etc. Also, depending on the tower configuration it can handle several co-located antenna arrays so multiple compnaies can use one tower. There are certain cell companies that have a reputation for being very hard to work with - so make sure the town specifies that the applicant must provide access/fill the tower before anyone can build another. You can also specify a bond or other mechanism to insure that the tower will be removed when obsolete. I know it won't stop the tower from being built but you can extract your pound of flesh from the vendor if you want to.
I agree with the observations about the inanity of the fake tree towers. Most fakes I have seen use uniform length branches - extremely unnatural. My understanding is that the tower needs to be about 20' above the tree tops for good signal strength if you are on the top of a hill. Sometimes I have seen the fake tree concept work really well but most times it is just visually jarring. Ask for specifics on alternative placement (top of farmers barn, church steeple, etc.)
Good Luck!
I agree with the observations about the inanity of the fake tree towers. Most fakes I have seen use uniform length branches - extremely unnatural. My understanding is that the tower needs to be about 20' above the tree tops for good signal strength if you are on the top of a hill. Sometimes I have seen the fake tree concept work really well but most times it is just visually jarring. Ask for specifics on alternative placement (top of farmers barn, church steeple, etc.)
Good Luck!
Anonymous Poster
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Re: Cell Tower
Good point, AMP762. I remember my dad saying "If you want privacy, buy it". This was in the early eighties when interest rates were 12% or more. He bought his privacy in 400 acres in 12 tracts. Now we have lots of people who move in on a 3 acre lot and want to tell us how to farm, or better yet, what size lot to sell. Seems they all want to maintain that "rural look". Sure didn't bother them when thier basement was being dug.
Good point, AMP762. I remember my dad saying "If you want privacy, buy it". This was in the early eighties when interest rates were 12% or more. He bought his privacy in 400 acres in 12 tracts. Now we have lots of people who move in on a 3 acre lot and want to tell us how to farm, or better yet, what size lot to sell. Seems they all want to maintain that "rural look". Sure didn't bother them when thier basement was being dug.
dummy
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Re: Cell Tower
<font color=blue>If the farmer wanted to raise goats instead of cows, or if he wanted to open a roadside stand I wouldn't care, but a cell tower will cost me money.</font color=blue>
Why would a cell tower cost you money? Shouldn't produce a negative property value.
FYI, an agreement was made here with SprintPCS. 180 ft. monopole, they leased (not bought) the site. They are responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and repair (including mowing) of the roadway and site area to the landowners satisfaction. They pay for any tax increases also. At lease end, they are responsible for all equipment removal and returning the site to it's previous condition. It's easier to see the tower coming up the road than it is from the backdoor.
The reason for the meeting is probably to get zoning approval. What is the whole area zoned for now, residential/agricultural? AT&T is probably looking to get a non-conforming use variance.
Don't let the neighbors get you too excited about the issue. Go to the meeting with an open mind and see what the AT&T people have on their agenda.
Our local real estate prices didn't plummet because of cell towers..
<font color=blue>If the farmer wanted to raise goats instead of cows, or if he wanted to open a roadside stand I wouldn't care, but a cell tower will cost me money.</font color=blue>
Why would a cell tower cost you money? Shouldn't produce a negative property value.
FYI, an agreement was made here with SprintPCS. 180 ft. monopole, they leased (not bought) the site. They are responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and repair (including mowing) of the roadway and site area to the landowners satisfaction. They pay for any tax increases also. At lease end, they are responsible for all equipment removal and returning the site to it's previous condition. It's easier to see the tower coming up the road than it is from the backdoor.
The reason for the meeting is probably to get zoning approval. What is the whole area zoned for now, residential/agricultural? AT&T is probably looking to get a non-conforming use variance.
Don't let the neighbors get you too excited about the issue. Go to the meeting with an open mind and see what the AT&T people have on their agenda.
Our local real estate prices didn't plummet because of cell towers..
MikePA
Super Moderator
Ir sounds like there are 2 major issues;
1. Visually unappealing - not much you can do about this, unless ATT agrees to erect one of the better 'fake tree' towers. We have high tension lines about 1,500' down the road from us. We can see them from our place. For better or for worse, high tension lines and cell towers have become part of the rural landscape. I'm sure at the beginning of the century people didn't like the telephone poles that were popping up all over the place. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
2. Property values - Lowered property values (if they do occur) would lower your property taxes, a plus. The downside, if they actually do drop, will only affect you if you're planning on selling. Are you?
I agree with those who have advised to attend the meeting(s) and get some facts about what will happen in this particular situation.
1. Visually unappealing - not much you can do about this, unless ATT agrees to erect one of the better 'fake tree' towers. We have high tension lines about 1,500' down the road from us. We can see them from our place. For better or for worse, high tension lines and cell towers have become part of the rural landscape. I'm sure at the beginning of the century people didn't like the telephone poles that were popping up all over the place. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
2. Property values - Lowered property values (if they do occur) would lower your property taxes, a plus. The downside, if they actually do drop, will only affect you if you're planning on selling. Are you?
I agree with those who have advised to attend the meeting(s) and get some facts about what will happen in this particular situation.
My opinion, go and fight it, but be realistic about what the outcome might be and how much it might cost you to loose. Cell towers are an eyesore and they have no place all over in rural america if you ask me...want to live in the country, then you might be forced to give up some of the big city amenities like seamless cell-phone coverage...who cares...does anyone really need to be on the phone all the time? Have you ever listened to some of the idiots that have a need to feel very important cause they are on there phone all the time?
How many conversation have you overheard at walmart of mcdonalds etc while people feel a need to be one the phone even while they shop...pretty lame.
Your best bet may be to make a feeble attempt to stop this tower, but GET INVOLVED in your local town boards (zoning, planning, conservation etc) and make it harder for the NEXT company that comes along and wants to pollute your visual space in order to line there own pockets. Unforuntaltey, almost everyone assumes that SOMEONE ELSE is going to do the work to prevent these type of enchroachments in the future...guess what, there is not.
I saw a bumper sticker I liked the other day "VOLUNTEER...AFTER ALL THE WORLD IS RUN BY PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP".
Unlike some others, I think a cell tower in sight of your house could reduce your property values..lor at least reduce the number of people that would be interested if you want to sell. I know I wouldn't buy/look at a house if I needed to stare a cell tower everyday.
Just my two cents
Good luck
How many conversation have you overheard at walmart of mcdonalds etc while people feel a need to be one the phone even while they shop...pretty lame.
Your best bet may be to make a feeble attempt to stop this tower, but GET INVOLVED in your local town boards (zoning, planning, conservation etc) and make it harder for the NEXT company that comes along and wants to pollute your visual space in order to line there own pockets. Unforuntaltey, almost everyone assumes that SOMEONE ELSE is going to do the work to prevent these type of enchroachments in the future...guess what, there is not.
I saw a bumper sticker I liked the other day "VOLUNTEER...AFTER ALL THE WORLD IS RUN BY PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP".
Unlike some others, I think a cell tower in sight of your house could reduce your property values..lor at least reduce the number of people that would be interested if you want to sell. I know I wouldn't buy/look at a house if I needed to stare a cell tower everyday.
Just my two cents
Good luck
Re: Cell Tower
bigdave,
Well Guess that another example why I wouldnt want to live east. around here $400K gets a 6000sqf home in the city.
In the country It gets you 100 or more acres, big house and lots of out buildings.
You should have enough to do on your onplace. Let the neighnor do what they want on theirs.
bigdave,
Well Guess that another example why I wouldnt want to live east. around here $400K gets a 6000sqf home in the city.
In the country It gets you 100 or more acres, big house and lots of out buildings.
You should have enough to do on your onplace. Let the neighnor do what they want on theirs.
MDNick
Gold Member
Robert, Watching the light change from white to red is one of the new rural games at my folks. Rates almost up with the bug zapper and the hummer jug. You'll know what that is if you live in a rural area. Of course that cell tower is 1/2 mile away. Can't really even see it, except for the light. My folks were contacted by a company doing installs for PD/fire/rescue towers. Wanted to put on up on my folks property at one time. Were told they didn't pay as well as Verizon/AT&T. Must have fell through.
Never had a need for a cell phone, don't want one, don't need one. So a tower has no benefit to me. But some people seem to have this plastic growth on their ear, and if some broke farmer can benefit from putting up a tower, and it staves off his selling out and growing houses for even a year, I am all for it. Which is something to consider. That $20k may pay off some bills the guy has (no idea, just talking here) and maybe he'll stay as a farmer and not as a house grower. Which would you like, one cell tower or 20 new neighbors?
Nick
Never had a need for a cell phone, don't want one, don't need one. So a tower has no benefit to me. But some people seem to have this plastic growth on their ear, and if some broke farmer can benefit from putting up a tower, and it staves off his selling out and growing houses for even a year, I am all for it. Which is something to consider. That $20k may pay off some bills the guy has (no idea, just talking here) and maybe he'll stay as a farmer and not as a house grower. Which would you like, one cell tower or 20 new neighbors?
Nick
rmacan
Member
Maybe they can camouflage the tower. They recently built one a couple miles away from us and the county made them cover it so it looked like a silo. The top is fiberglass so the radio waves can get through. If you didn't know what it really was it looks (at least from the road) like an old barn silo.
cstocks
Platinum Member
Hmmm, that's food for thought, Nick. I believe I would take one cell tower over 20 new neighbors any time and every time! Kinda gives me the creeps just thinking about 20 new neighbors! Ever think about that, Big Dave? Maybe having a new cell tower as a neighbor is not such a bad concept after all...
