One cell tower application left, Monterey residents say that’s one too many
A Central Coast community is asking a cellphone giant to stay away.
Last year, Bay Area company ExteNet applied for permits to install 13 small cell towers for Verizon Wireless in the Monte Vista neighborhood in Monterey. An engineer with the company said the installations would “close a significant wireless service coverage gap in the Monterey Area.”
Neighbors who did their own tests said that’s not true.
“No reports show that we have a coverage gap. Our residents say we don’t have a coverage gap. The Verizon store says we don’t have a coverage gap,” resident Pat Venza said.
Venza said better service is not what the neighbors want from Verizon.
“We don’t want it improved. We are happy with the way it is. Just go away,” Venza said.
Suddenly, on Wednesday, ExteNet withdrew 12 of its 13 applications.
Neighbors are wondering what is going on.
“One (tower) will do nothing. They’ve said all along they have to have all 13 or it won’t work,” Venza said.
These neighbors are more concerned about their health than their cellphones.
“There are a lot of health concerns. Three schools here in the area, these rays will be going throughout that area. We have a lot of older people with health problems,” Venza said.
Experts have yet to agree on the impact of the radio waves from cellphone towers.
The American Cancer Society says most researchers believe cellphone towers don’t pose health risks under ordinary conditions.
But according to Environmental Health Trust, a nonprofit research institution, some experts are finding that cellphone waves can contribute to autism, cancer, obesity and more.
The city said, when it comes to evaluating these permit applications, its scope is very limited.
“The Federal Communications Commission limits local jurisdiction’s authority to evaluate environmental impacts, including issues like perceived or potential health impacts,” said Todd Bennett, Monterey senior associate planner.
Monterey’s planning commission is scheduled to review the one remaining cell tower application Thursday night.
