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Hernando Rejects Cell Antenna Disguised As Bell Tower

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By MICHAEL D. BATES, Hernando Today

Published: October 13, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - These days, cell towers come fashionably dressed.

To hide the ugly cables and antennas, imaginative designers disguise them as church steeples, bell towers, flagpoles and roadside light poles.

But Hernando County commissioners decided Wednesday that a cell tower is still a tower, no matter how much lipstick builders apply.

They voted 3-2 to deny a company's request to erect a 140-foot communication tower in a lightly wooded section at the southwest corner of Spring Hill Drive and Deering Avenue.

The applicant planned to locate the structure on the grounds at Fellowship Wesleyan Church of Spring Hill, at 11250 Spring Hill Drive.

Commissioners were poised to approve the request and even went so far as to consider the bell tower option, which would have fit well next to a church.

However, their enthusiasm was deflated after Jewel Agostinacchio, whose home would have backed up about 200 feet from the tower, gave an emotional appeal to the board.

The Federal Housing Administration would not insure a mortgage loan on her property because of the proximity of the cell tower, she said, backing up the claim with a letter displayed on the overhead projector.

If this cell tower is allowed, 'just take my house from me,' Agostinacchio told commissioners.

Lauralee Westine, an attorney for cell phone companies and tower builders, said she had not heard of companies refusing to insure homes.

She said the tower would be unobtrusive and shielded with trees.

In the end, though, commissioners could not disregard Agostinacchio's testimony.

Further crippling Westine's case was testimony from cell tower consultant Art Peters, who told the board a bell tower has three monopoles and is big and intrusive no matter where it is positioned on property.

Peters' testimony seemed to seal the deal for commissioners.

When Hernando County Commissioner Diane Rowden's motion to approve the tower request died for lack of a second, Commissioner David Russell asked for denial.

It was quickly seconded, and Westine's request died.

'Yes, there is a need for cell towers because of the technology,' Commissioner Rose Rocco said. 'But we have to be aware of where we put them. They are intrusive, without a question.'

Dennis Curatolo, who owns property off Deering Avenue, called Wednesday's decision a 'victory for little residential neighborhoods.'

Westin would not comment on her client's next move.

By law, any applicant whose request is denied at a land use hearing has 30 days to appeal the decision.

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