Here are some thoughts on the approval by Roanoke City Council for Pegasus Tower Company to construct a cell tower at 1809 Franklin Rd SW, near Roanoke River and the Greenway.
* 14 members of the public got involved enough to go to the City Council meeting to speak in opposition to the cell tower construction.
* Many more folks in opposition to the cell tower construction attended the City Council meeting.
* Numerous messages were sent to council members in opposition to the cell tower construction.
* Two Facebook events were created in opposition to the cell tower construction.
* The Roanoke Times published a letter from a Roanoke resident in opposition to the cell tower construction.
* Likely more expressions of disapproval from the public were broadcast through various channels.
* Approx. 4 folks left the Council Meeting before being able to speak after being patient enough to wait over 2 hrs as City Council discussed the consequences for a resident of Old Southwest covering 75% of a few inches of their rotting wood soffit and fascia with metal!
* 10 residents, from Old Southwest, South Roanoke and SE Roanoke neighborhoods, spoke at the Council Meeting. All of them spoke against the cell tower construction.
* The unified objection expressed by the public at the Council Meeting; through The Roanoke Times letter; Facebook events, prior messages to council members and through other channels, was that other technologies are available to increase cell signal strength and coverage. And all of these alternative methods are less obtrusive and visually polluting than a 165 ft cell tower with a flashing light on the top.
* Pegasus Tower Company doesn’t construct any of the alternative methods, they only construct cell towers. Their attorneys, representing them at the Council Meeting, didn’t present or even mention any of the other options available.
* But the public did. Before and during the Council Meeting, clearly and directly, multiple times and through multiple channels.
* City Council did not investigate any of the alternative methods to constructing a cell tower. Worse, they appeared not even aware of alternatives to cell towers existing (which makes one wonder if they read any of the previously submitted oppositions from the public).
* City Council voted to allow Pegasus to go ahead with constructing a cell tower.
* Roanoke is now getting a 165 foot cell tower with a flashing light on top, visible from who knows what distance away, messing up the views of our awesome surroundings.
* Council voted yes to approving: a construction based on technology that is rapidly becoming outdated; an unnecessary visual obstruction to our beautiful surroundings and tourism assets; an action that Roanoke citizens couldn’t more clearly have expressed they don’t want – citizens that City Council are appointed to serve, to act in the best interests of and be accountable to.
* In addition, one wonders how the City Council decision conforms to Roanoke Code Sec 36.2-432 (a) 2, “Minimize the impacts or wireless telecommunications facilities and broadcasting towers on the public safety, the natural environment, and surrounding properties by ….locating their facilities, to the extent possible, in area where the adverse impact on the community is minimal.”
* The decision of City Council could be challenged perhaps, somehow. But what’s the point? Roanoke citizens have already clearly and directly spoken out. And been ignored.
* Councilman Court Rosen abstained from the discussion and vote because the applicant, Pegasus Tower, is represented by the law firm that also employs his wife.
* Vice Mayor David Trinkle and Councilman Bill Bestpitch opposed the construction of the cell tower.
* Councilman Sherman Lea, Councilwoman Anita Price, Councilman Ray Ferris and Mayor Bowers voted yes to construction of the cell tower.
* Many more folks in opposition to the cell tower construction attended the City Council meeting.
* Numerous messages were sent to council members in opposition to the cell tower construction.
* Two Facebook events were created in opposition to the cell tower construction.
* The Roanoke Times published a letter from a Roanoke resident in opposition to the cell tower construction.
* Likely more expressions of disapproval from the public were broadcast through various channels.
* Approx. 4 folks left the Council Meeting before being able to speak after being patient enough to wait over 2 hrs as City Council discussed the consequences for a resident of Old Southwest covering 75% of a few inches of their rotting wood soffit and fascia with metal!
* 10 residents, from Old Southwest, South Roanoke and SE Roanoke neighborhoods, spoke at the Council Meeting. All of them spoke against the cell tower construction.
* The unified objection expressed by the public at the Council Meeting; through The Roanoke Times letter; Facebook events, prior messages to council members and through other channels, was that other technologies are available to increase cell signal strength and coverage. And all of these alternative methods are less obtrusive and visually polluting than a 165 ft cell tower with a flashing light on the top.
* Pegasus Tower Company doesn’t construct any of the alternative methods, they only construct cell towers. Their attorneys, representing them at the Council Meeting, didn’t present or even mention any of the other options available.
* But the public did. Before and during the Council Meeting, clearly and directly, multiple times and through multiple channels.
* City Council did not investigate any of the alternative methods to constructing a cell tower. Worse, they appeared not even aware of alternatives to cell towers existing (which makes one wonder if they read any of the previously submitted oppositions from the public).
* City Council voted to allow Pegasus to go ahead with constructing a cell tower.
* Roanoke is now getting a 165 foot cell tower with a flashing light on top, visible from who knows what distance away, messing up the views of our awesome surroundings.
* Council voted yes to approving: a construction based on technology that is rapidly becoming outdated; an unnecessary visual obstruction to our beautiful surroundings and tourism assets; an action that Roanoke citizens couldn’t more clearly have expressed they don’t want – citizens that City Council are appointed to serve, to act in the best interests of and be accountable to.
* In addition, one wonders how the City Council decision conforms to Roanoke Code Sec 36.2-432 (a) 2, “Minimize the impacts or wireless telecommunications facilities and broadcasting towers on the public safety, the natural environment, and surrounding properties by ….locating their facilities, to the extent possible, in area where the adverse impact on the community is minimal.”
* The decision of City Council could be challenged perhaps, somehow. But what’s the point? Roanoke citizens have already clearly and directly spoken out. And been ignored.
* Councilman Court Rosen abstained from the discussion and vote because the applicant, Pegasus Tower, is represented by the law firm that also employs his wife.
* Vice Mayor David Trinkle and Councilman Bill Bestpitch opposed the construction of the cell tower.
* Councilman Sherman Lea, Councilwoman Anita Price, Councilman Ray Ferris and Mayor Bowers voted yes to construction of the cell tower.
– River Laker / Roanoke
