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Land-Use Officer Gives Nod To Church Cell Tower

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: February 4, 2009

TAMPA - Even though a zoning hearing master has recommended approval of a 153-foot-tall cell phone tower on St. Cloud Avenue, Valrico residents are poised to attend a Hillsborough County land-use meeting Tuesday to oppose it.

T-Mobile South wants to construct a transmission tower and an 80-by-40-foot building on a 15-acre parcel owned by Horizon Christian Church of Brandon on St. Cloud Avenue between Laurel Leaf Drive and Windcrest Oaks Court. T-Mobile South representative Lauralee Westine said the tower would be built to look like a church cross to blend with the surroundings.

Residents who live nearby and parents of students at Buckhorn Elementary School, which backs up to the church property, are contesting the proposal.

Frank Ferlita, who lives in the Westminster subdivision, said neighbors are worried about diminished property values and concerned there is no conclusive evidence that radio frequencies from cell towers aren't harmful to health.

However, land-use hearing officer Steven Luce said that under the 1996 Federal Communications Act, governments are not permitted to deny proposals for cell towers exclusively based on health concerns.
Westine submitted property appraisals from a professional appraiser that indicate property values won't be affected.

Luce disapproved of a cross-style tower, saying it would be more visible than a flagpole-style cell tower. He stipulated in his recommendation that the tower have no flag or lights.

The Hillsborough County Commission will make the final decision on the application at the land-use meeting at County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

Commissioners also are expected to vote on whether to allow a private school to move from Montclair Avenue to Lumsden Road.

Land-use hearing officer James Scarola has recommended allowing Dawn Carlson, owner of the Brandon Reading Clinic, to build a school for 45 students with dyslexia, reading problems and other disabilities on 2 acres on the north side of Lumsden Road west of Oak Regency Lane.

Neighboring Westminster Presbyterian Church opposed the school, fearing it would open the door to commercial activity on that section of Lumsden.

Scarola, however, said the school would not have playgrounds or playing fields, and he did not think it would interfere with neighboring land uses.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

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