Shorter cell poles ring true to city

Deirdre Newman

Cingular and Sprint will be back in the council chambers tonight with

revised plans for mounting cellphone antennas in West Newport.

Both companies have been thwarted from their effort to mount their

antennas on light poles along Superior Avenue mainly because of

neighbors who don’t want their views blocked.

After the council sent the companies back to the drawing board,

both decided they can achieve the coverage they need by mounting

their antennas on 32-foot light poles.

This was a sticking point when they came before the council in

October. The companies had originally wanted to mount their antennas

on poles that could be up to 35 feet high, not the 32-foot ones that

already are there.

The council is considering the antennas only because the equipment

that supports them would be located within a city-owned parking lot

at Superior Avenue and West Coast Highway. The wireless companies are

interested in this location to enhance the strength of their existing

signals and network capacities in the area.

“It’s a very busy intersection,” said Gil Gonzalez, a consultant

for Cingular. “It’s not just for personal use, but for emergency use,

too. To not have coverage here at that intersection is bad for

everybody.”

Many of the residents at Villa Versailles and Villa Balboa opposed

the 35-foot poles. Ed Sherman, who lives at Villa Balboa, said he’s

glad the companies have altered their plans.

“I’m glad to hear they agreed to stay with the 32-height pole and

hope they keep the light fixture at the same height, so you get the

same beam spread and the same pattern,” Sherman said. “If you lower

the fixture 3 feet, you’re going to narrow the light pattern and have

dark spots.”

The city’s Public Works Department reviewed the revised plans and

determined the antennas would provide adequate light along Superior

Avenue, according to the staff report.

In September 2002, the council approved a policy allowing the city

to rent space on its properties and facilities for cellular antennas.

A month later, it approved a law governing installation of the

antennas for both city- and privately-owned commercial property.

Cellular antennas are not allowed on residential property, according

to the city’s law.

City Councilwoman Leslie Daigle -- a land-use consultant for a

variety of clients, including telephone companies -- said she is

impressed with the companies’ efforts to respond to the residents’

concerns.

“I think they’re working through the aesthetic issues to be able

to deliver the service,” Daigle said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers government. She may be reached at (714)

966-4623 or by e-mail at [email protected].