[Durham INC] Fw: Board of Adjustment Meeting 5-28-2013/Neighbors vs cell tower in R zone

[Dorothy Croom]

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Dorothy Croom <ashbri2000 at yahoo.com>
To: "inc-list at durnaminc.org" <inc-list at durnaminc.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 11:07 AM
Subject: Fw: [Durham INC] Board of Adjustment Meeting 5-28-2013/Neighbors vs cell tower in R zone






----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Dorothy Croom <goodneighborsof751 at yahoo.com>
To: "inc-list at durhaminc.org" <inc-list at durhaminc.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 12:18 AM
Subject: [Durham INC] Board of Adjustment Meeting 5-28-2013/Neighbors vs cell tower in R zone



By Feb 2013, INC added its advocacy to lobby city and county government to change the UDO to incorporate standards that protect the safety, aesthetic and land-use concerns of residents and to put conceal cell tower approval in the hands of elected or quasi-judicial bodies which involve public hearings wherein residents can give input on any tower proposed for their neighborhood.  The INC committee that recently made an exhaustive analysis of the UDO, in March told City Council and April told the Joint City County Planning Committee that in fact administrative staff has no legal standing to approve tower deployment.  Consider a 120ft. "monopine" cell tower (fake pine on a large pole) standing on a mound where Massey Chapel Road meets Hwy 751-visible 60 ft. above a small surrounding stand of Loblolly pines- IS IT CONCEALED"?  It is concealed from the neighbors across the pavement and from other area residents living and driving along scenic Highway
 751?  Help fill the Board od Adjustment room on the 2nd floor on Tues May 28...8:30a.m., at City Hall to support the neighborhood group that's defending for all of Durham residents your right to be included in potential cell tower deployment in your neighborhood.  Case no. B1300006 pending since October 23, 2013, was filed by Stage Stop/Durham to oppose the Sprint Southpoint Cell Tower as sited in
their residential community.  The case now hinges on the validity of a "description of concealed."  Section 5.3.3N and Section 16.3 of the city county UNIFIED Development Ordinance has been protested by three neighborhoods impacted by the proposed tower since they accidentally found out about it in late 2011.  Their initial opposition to the tower being erected above two 60 year old high pressure gas lines ( 8' to 10" in diameter) and distribution center next to 174 homes began as safety concern but, once residents found the UDO allows the Director of Planning to approve of conceal cell towers that seem to target R zones long as they meet limited technical and engineering standards (the UDO lists no safety requirements like liability insurance and fall zones to distance towers from overhead or underground utilities and residential structures), they saw their plight had ramifications for all Durham neighborhoods.  According to the expert we hired
 from Duke University with a Phd in Electrical Engineering and Physics that this cell tower will increase our risks of an accident.  When tower companies, such as TowerCo located in Cary, NC build towers that have been proposed for sites in residential zones, the approval process avoids notification of residents and has no format for citizen input. The UDO is a mere checklist for applicants before approval.  Your neighborhood could be next with a 120 ft. tower standing only 50 ft. from your front door, so your physical presence is much needed; remember the larger the wheel, the louder the SQUEAK.SQUEAK.SQUEAK.SQUEAK.SQUEAK.SQUEAK.SQUEAK.SQUEAK.SQUEAK.  For more information call (919) 484-7968 or email ashbri2000 at yahoo.com.
Dorothy and Dolly





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