Cell Tower

[Robert_in_NY]

I don't think the judge found them to be Just some Good ol boys this time though/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[DavidInNH]

Mark,

There is one of those on the south side of Rt. 2 between Lunenburg and Harvard, MA. I have absolutely no idea how many times I drove past it before I realized what it was. If you look directly at it, its easy to tell it isn't a real tree, but they did a really nice job with it. I've mentioned to other folks that have never even noticed it.

 

[gws]

FCC has nothing to do with preempting local laws. They stay clear of those issues. FAA has more to do with were a tower is placed.

A city can have a no tower zone, but in a rural area who cares.
If it was a 150ft gain mill no one would be complaining.

 

[Hydraman]

Mebee this is like complaining about damage to the environment all while using the toaster, TV, phone lights, synthetic fabric, automobiles, natural fabric, gasoline, alcohol, diesel fuel, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, yah-da- da-da-da!!!! or complaining about the farmer while we are all 40 lbs. overweight!!! Bye now. Gotta go! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

BigDave,

If AT&T tried to put a 180 foot tower across the road from me I would be mightly unhappy--especially since they just cancelled me because I moved out of their service area. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Seriously though, the tower will hurt your property values, and if I was in your shoes, I would try and fight it. Sure it's a NIMBY issue, but after all, it's your backyard. About the only thing you and your neighbors can do is to show up at the meeting en mas, and make your objections clear. Remind the local politicians that this is a vote losing issue.

In all probability, it won't make much difference in the end. But it might, so it's worth the fight.

Some info: during a visit to a very rural part of Washington, I came across a political movement to block cell towers because they destroyed the ambience of rural living. I have no idea if the advocates for this idea made any headway though.

Also, just because you have "AT&T" coverage now doesn't mean AT&T has any local cell towers. They have arrangements with several other companies to use each other systems. It still reads AT&T on the phone's screen. They may be starting to put up their own towers now, or it may be something else.

One last thing.

Your local politicians should already have put an appropriate legal process in place to deal with this situation. If they haven't, they need replacing with someone with foresight.

Good luck.

SnowRidge

 

[BigDave]

Some responses & thoughts:

The AT&T coverage is pretty good around here, my builder had AT&T and the only times I couldn't reach him was when he was at a job-site over in the next county. He lives in this area, so I would catch him in many different places. So having the tower here doesn't benefit the local community, but I suspect it benefits folks ten miles away.

My problem with the situation, is the farmer gets $20K for his land, but I lose $20K when it is time to sell my home. My neighbors each lose $20K, ($400K homes) along with the houses on the other side of him. So I am not worried about not making a friend or an enemy, since he's looking for some quick cash, but sticking it to everyone else for a much bigger total loss.

There must some zoning issue, since a public meeting has been called. I would suspect that his farm is in conservation, (he gets a big tax cut) and not automatically allowed to sell any of his land. I don't know if the meeting is just a formality, if if there is potential to stop this action.

I too, like looking at the stars, and I just got my early Cristmas present of a 5" refractor telescope.

My neighbor has suggested that we each put $5K into a combined legal fund to try to stop this if the county approves the tower. It would be up to the farmer & AT&T if they want show us how deep their pockets are. Unless AT&T defends the farmer for free, I doubt he has the stomach for a legal battle.

Yes, it is my backyard, and yes I am the one suffers financial loss, but receive no benefit. I sure if AT&T went around and handed everyone in the neighborhood $20K, there wouldn't be as many complaints.

One of the benefits of house in the woods is you don't need to be bothered by what my neighbors do, but a 180ft tower towers over my 50ft trees.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

If your house is in the woods and you have 50' trees, you will hardly be able to see that tower. The most you might be able to see would be the very tip of the tower. You are going to do what you want and best of luck to you but if AT&T is like Verizon, they have a ton of lawyers that are on their payroll for these sorts of things. They have a fight just about everywhere they go so the lawyers will be there if you push it that far. I think you will end up throwing that $5000 away for your own legal rep's as it won't do any good.

 

[lblair]

Look at it as free entertainment. Here is a shot of the tower kitty corner from me. I dont know how tall it is but its up there. It doesnt bother me that its there, i just wish i was reaping the benifits of the income from it. They have a narrow stone drive down to it about 400 yards and it opens up to about 1 acer of cleard land in the woods. I think our village owns the land its right behind our sewer plant. Another thing i not utilizeing. Im on septic and glad of it!
Larry

 

[Green_in_MI]

Not a fair shot at local politicians to hold them accountable for everything that can happen. Most of them are hard working dedicated people who give up lots of their personal time to do the dirty work others don't want to have the time for. To dismiss them for a single issue like this that they really don't have any control over is just bs.

 

[TedLynn]

A very good reply with some good points. I imagine that our fathers and forefathers did not like the look of the first electric and telephone lines outside their house, but needed the service and agreed to the trade-off. Technology is great. I find the towers much less obnoxious than the many high voltage transmission lines across this valley. Ten years ago, a cell phone was a novelty, now it's almost (or seems) a necessity. Everything of value has a price associated with it. If I didn't want a tower close to me, then I would be the first to cancel my service.