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Tuesday, 03 October 2006 18:37 |
By DAVID FORBES
Concerns about aesthetics and intrusion into residential areas led Asheville City Council on Sept. 26 to vote 4-3 to narrowly defeat a measure that would have allowed cell phone towers in some residential areas under certain conditions.
"These might end up near public housing, near our higher density areas ÇƒÓ and I donët see large cell phone towers as being part of the deal we take to the community," Mayor Terry Bellamy said, speaking in opposition to the measure. "Since Iëve been on council, weëve seen large cell phone towers in places like South Tunnel Road and Louisiana Avenue ÇƒÓ I donët want to create another area where they can go up if we can help it."
The
proposal would have allowed cell phone towers in RM-16 zoning, usually
reserved for denser housing. Sites for potential towers would have to
be at least five acres, disguised and the tower would have a 100-foot
buffer around it.
Proposed cell
phone towers would also have had to go through a conditional zoning
process and pass a vote by council before they could be erected.
Proponents of
the measure said it would lead to better cell phone reception
throughout Asheville. They also asserted that due to improved
technology and the conditional zoning requirement, the towers would not
be an eyesore ÇƒÓ and council could still deny approval to any project it
felt intruded on an area.
Councilmen Brownie Newman, Carl Mumpower and Jan Davis all voted in favor of the measure.
Earlier, Davis
said that he had once opposed cell phone towers in such areas, but that
"times have changed" and due to better construction, the new towers
would be a viable possibility.
"I was very
concerned about what they (the towers) would look like," Davis said.
"But now thereës much stealthier technology and thatës less of a
concern ÇƒÓ and with it being conditional zoning for these, we can still
have the final say.
"If you look up
close at some of these ǃÚtreeë towers, its obvious theyëre artificial,
but theyëre pretty well disguised if youëre just driving by."
Currently, cell phone towers can be built in residential areas on institutional sites such as churches or schools.
Meanwhile, Vice
Mayor Holly Jones, who had initially been supportive of the measure,
said that she became concerned about other uses besides housing in the
RM-16 areas.
"Before I was
supportive of this, but now Iëm having second thoughts," Jones said
about mid-way through councilës discussion on the issue. "I tend to be
kind of chintzy about other uses intruding into that RM-16 zoning.
Weëre going to need denser housing in the future ÇƒÓ and thatës where
weëre going to need it."
Also doubting
the measure, Councilwoman Robin Cape questioned why the towers had to
be in residential areas and also wondered if council could make "a
blanket rule on this, maybe require conditional zoning for cell phone
towers in any area."
In comments
prior to the vote, Bill Annon, who works for the Charlotte-based firm
Chase Real Estate, which helps cell phone companies find viable sites
for towers, said that the towers could help cell phone reception in the
city ÇƒÓ and that it would only be located in RM-16 after other options
had been explored.
"By the time
youëd get to that process, the carrier would have exhausted other
places like water towers, church steeples, high-rises ÇƒÓ basically every
other option."
Councilman Bryan
Freeborn questioned that assessment, asking, "Where in Asheville can
you not get phone reception?" and requesting a map or more information.
In the end, he voted against the measure.
In contrast, Mumpower said that allowing such towers would be an innovative way to use space.
"They arenët
just these huge towers any more ÇƒÓ this is a really cost-effective way
to do this,"
Mumpower said. "Also, it would still have to come before
council. This is not a back door for an intrusion into neighboorhoods,
itës just an opportunity."
Initially questioning the measure, Newman also felt that it struck a balance.
"It does seem
like thereës a better type of design here," he said. "There are still
some doubts about how and where these would go up. I have some myself.
But I see more pro than con here."
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