What do you think?
Well, it depends on what side of the fence you’re on. Let me explain. Chances are, the neighborhood in which you live has an active online community that engages through a social media channel, be it Facebook or the recently popular Nextdoor app. Now, with the tap of your finger on your phone or tablet, you can instantly be on the pulse of your community’s latest news, gossip, for sale items, neighborly good deeds (and sometimes bad), and local recommendations.
I’ve been engaged with the Nextdoor app on my iPhone, as a member of several community networks, all within the vicinity I live. Over the past two years, I’ve learned a lot about my neighborhood and the people who live, work, and play within it; and from what we share with one another, I couldn’t be prouder of our community. I hope your experiences are the same.
Of course, there’s occasionally negative news in the mix. But it’s good to be in the know, regardless. The social media platforms available today have enabled neighbors and communities to instantly connect in a way previously unseen.
Which is why two months ago in our community of Herald Harbor, those of us scrolling the Nextdoor app were both shocked and gracious when a neighbor posted a photograph of a variance hearing notification. It was mailed to residents within 300 feet of a proposed 180-foot cellular tower, to be erected on open property at the head of the community. And the meeting to yea or nay the requested variances needed to build this tower would take place one month from that notification. Wait…what? A major infrastructure project that nobody heard about previously? Possible approval in only a month’s time? Thank goodness one neighbor decided to share the news with all.
Take a moment to imagine the entrance to your community that you travel in and out of, day after day. Is it well-maintained? Is it pretty? Does it give you a sense of pride to live there? Now picture it with a massive monopole cellular tower surrounded by a chain link/barbed wire fence with a cumbersome diesel generator welcoming you.
Some of you reading this may be familiar with this scenario already, as cellular companies perpetually seek locations to upgrade and place communications equipment. Companies including AT&T (of which I’m a customer) and Verizon often subcontract scouting/broker services, such as the locally-owned SmartLink, to seek public or private property owners willing to lease their land on which to erect this equipment. Often, telecommunications equipment is tacked onto existing structures like water towers or built on sites hidden from plain view. Sometimes though, deals are made with private land owners…and the deals aren’t pretty for all affected.
A cellular tower in the middle of a densely packed neighborhood, directly across the street from a daycare center, community center, park, restaurant, and market, however, simply doesn’t make sense. Was there due diligence in siting this tower?
Though AT&T deems the tower necessary to service a coverage gap (never mind that I’m a customer with fine service) and to double as part of the new nationwide FirstNet system (a wireless broadband system for first responders/emergency), residents expressed their concerns and doubts. Afterall, there’s more than goodwill involved…there’s money and profit. So, the overarching questions became: why here, who stands to benefit, and at what or who’s cost?
When the landowner—the local volunteer fire department—finally stepped forward and explained their position, community members became divided on the issue.
NIMBY: acronym for Not in My Back Yard. You likely know the term. You may even be one. When the character of your community is threatened by outsiders, you become one. For many in the community, this project is a resounding no for reasons including neighborhood aesthetics, safety/health concerns, and depreciation of real estate.
On the contrary, proponents cite enhanced cellular reception, emergency services, and a sorely needed income stream for the volunteer fire department (AT&T proposes paying $1,200/monthly for the lease).
As of this writing, the variance hearing is a week away. By the time you read this, it may or may not be too late to determine the course of this project. Nixing the variance requests (of which there are seven) would likely kill this project location. An approval, on the other hand, could be met with a legal appeal by the community.
This entire situation raises several red flags and more questions. Projects of this scope are certainly explored or in the planning phase for more than a year. Why would an entire community be kept in the dark for so long?
Should Anne Arundel County revise its Planning & Zoning protocols concerning public notification of large-scale projects? What is deemed large scale? A 180-foot cellular tower seems large-scale in the context of a small waterfront community.
And why did FirstNet partner with AT&T to roll out a new, nationwide broadband wireless network when Verizon, among others, already has the infrastructure in place?
Maybe AT&T, developers, and similar companies should join community networks. They could engage a community first and learn how to communicate effectively with its residents. I urge you to join your community network. You won’t know what you’re missing until, perhaps, it’s too late. After all, your community could be next.
