Meeting about cell tower study gets heated

A discussion about a study on where to build cell towers got heated before anyone ever tackled the issue.

About 25 people attended a community meeting Tuesday night to give input for a possible study of how much of a setback there needs to be between towers and homes. Hillsborough County commissioners asked for the meeting after repeatedly hearing concerns from residents about cell towers being built too close to homes.

But even before the group that assembled Tuesday night -- a mix of cell tower opponents and wireless company representatives -- could discuss the issue, they argued over what they would discuss.

Lead county planner Tom Hiznay explained that the purpose of the meeting was to determine if there is a need for a study on a possible code amendment that would change the setback ratios. Hiznay said he was told to focus on possible safety reasons to change the setbacks.

But Lisa Williams, a member of a group opposed to cell towers, said the meeting should also address the aesthetics of cell towers. Hiznay said county commissioners told him to focus only on safety and the purpose of the meeting was simply to determine if a study was needed.

"We are supposed to go back to them and say we've studied this issue, here are the findings, and what do you want to do?" Hiznay said.

Williams disagreed and said she planned to contact county commissioner and urge them to include aesthetics as part of the focus for the next community meeting.

The group did eventually make a partial list of safety concerns that may be reasons to change the setback rules. Currently, cell towers must be set away from residential properties one foot for every three feet of height. At least one commissioner wants to consider changing that to a 1-to-1 ratio.

Cell tower opponents listed a collapse as the top safety concern. But cell tower engineers said collapses are extremely rare and that they didn't know of any in Florida since Hurricane Andrew.

Opponents said towers pose other risks beyond collapse - specifically, flying debris in high winds. One resident brought a four-foot model made out of Legos to demonstrate the fall zone and debris field.

The group's safety concerns also included lightning and the danger of access to the compounds that surround the poles.

Opponents also wanted to tackle concerns about putting towers at school sites despite what they say are risks to children. But Hiznay said their focus was the effects on surrounding residential areas not school property.

"You really need to be at the school board for that issue," Hiznay said.

Laura Belflower, a representative for several wireless carriers, warned that too many restrictions could cause more problems.

"The increased setback would make it more difficult to find sites and force us to put more towers closer to roads where people can see them," she said.

The county plans to schedule another community meeting the first week in August. Planners plan to take their findings to the county commission in September.