Cellular antenna OK'd by planning commissioners

Despite opposition from neighbors, Carson City Planning Commissioners on Wednesday recommended a plan to place a wireless communications antenna atop the First Baptist Church.

"My main objection is having a commercial structure in a residential neighborhood," said Frieda Ford. "Is this a precedent?"

Chris Chrystal, who has lived in that Carson City neighborhood for the past eight years, is concerned about possible health effects.

"I believe that human health and safety are the most essential considerations that government agencies should have when deciding what to allow into a neighborhood," she said. "I would expect the cellular company, and perhaps the church, to say that this tower would be perfectly safe. But in this climate of scientific uncertainty, who can say for sure?"

Notices about the plan for a nearly 59-foot facility were sent to more than 75 residents living within 300 feet of the site, 1750 Mountain St., next to the intersection of Mountain and Bath streets. A majority of respondents were "in opposition" to the project, said Jennifer Pruitt, the city's senior planner.

There were three other nearby sites looked at by Cingular Wireless: Fritsch Elementary School, 504 Bath St.; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1837 Mountain St.; and Bank of America, 600 E. William St.

The school was considered but rejected because of there were no existing structures tall enough to place the antenna. The church didn't provide enough space for equipment and the bank building was too far southeast to best serve the coverage area, according to a report to the city filed by Cingular in December.

The bank building already is home to two other antennas: One is 55 feet high and the other is 60 feet high. The first wireless communication antenna to go up in Carson City was at the airport in 1997.

There have been 17 others approved since then and the city "has seen an increase in cellular site requests in the past few years," Pruitt said.

As more and more people use cell phones at home, service providers are "having to get closer and closer to homes," said Meredith Parkin, land use planning for Cingular Wireless.

The original design was to place the antenna inside 59-foot illuminated cross. After opposition from neighbors, it will now will be a steeple without a spiked end that has two small crosses decorating it. The shield won't be illuminated.

Cell phone antenna proposals such as this one cannot be denied solely because of health concerns, according to the Federal Communications Commission. The city has found that it conforms to local regulations.

Studies still are being done about the safety of the antennas. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has found "no significant indication that chronic exposure to the electromagnetic fields around cellular sites has any potential to be hazardous to human health."

-- Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.