Building can have cell phone antennas, Goleta council rules

THOMAS SCHULTZ, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

February 8, 2006 12:00 AM
The Goleta City Council on Monday night unanimously approved four cell phone antennas for a commercial building on Calle Real, denying an appeal brought by neighbors concerned about aesthetics, health effects and the prospect of still more transmitters being "co-located" at the site housing offices and a Spectrum Health Club.

Because they comply with national standards for acceptable levels of radio frequency radiation, federal law prohibited the council from ruling on the basis of safety. Hidden in a wall and faux pipe vent, the devices' appearance did not amount to visual blight, the council decided.

"Our hands are pretty much tied," said Mayor Jonny Wallis, who joined colleagues in urging Sprint PCS to find another location in the face of public outcry. "This is not good for your business."

Sprint agent David Thornburgh, of InfraNext Inc., said the antennas are safe and needed to improve cell reception along Highway 101.

The devices will produce roughly 5 percent of the maximum radiation exposure allowed under federal law, according to Sprint.

Mr. Thornburgh said the company investigated other locations, including the Fairview Shopping Center and a nearby church steeple, but none panned out.

Opponents suggested putting the antennas atop the Fairview Avenue freeway overpass, but that is too difficult due to Caltrans restrictions, Mr. Thornburgh said. "To allow a maintenance vehicle to enter and exit here is not permissible."

Andrew Seybold, a Santa Barbara wireless consultant supporting the project, noted Cottage Hospital has two rooftop cell sites with a third likely on the way. Hospital spokeswoman Janet O'Neill confirmed this Tuesday, describing a total 18 existing antennas from various companies, some dating back 10 years.

Sprint attorney John Boat told the council it could not legally overturn the city zoning administrator's November approval of the Calle Real project based on fears of an "antenna farm" sprouting there. "Sprint cannot control who is going to show up next."

Led by Verdura Avenue resident Bob Wignot, opponents of the project from the Fairview Avenue and Los Carneros Organized Neighborhoods (FALCON) complained of being caught in a bureaucratic time warp.

Based on a rule inherited from Santa Barbara County when Goleta incorporated in early 2002, the antennas must be 50 feet or more from the closest residence. The county has subsequently made placement of a cell site within 300 feet of a home more difficult. Goleta is expected to strengthen its ordinance as well, though a change would come too late to affect the Sprint project.

Among the most vocal opponents was Malva Avenue resident Jackie Chapman, who gathered 200 signatures from like-minded neighbors.

"The whole situation brought our community together," she said Tuesday. "It made me really proud. Even the City Council members would have definitely voted for us. I'd like it known that it's pretty sad that you get lawyers in there and this big company and they can pretty much push a little town around."

Even before the decision, Mr. Wignot offered a similar David-versus-Goliath portrayal of the situation. "FALCON was going to use the same attorneys at 'Dewey, Cheatem & How,' but they weren't available," he told the council.

At least one health-conscious member plans to abandon the Spectrum fitness center for either another branch or a new gym. Brian Lee said he works out up to 18 hours a week, and noted the Calle Real club has a child care center.

Ted Ontiveras, general manager of the Spectrum branch, said company executives attempted to communicate concerns about the project with the property owner. "It doesn't seem to have done much good."

Sprint has permission through a conditional use permit for two arrays of two antennas each, in addition to a nine-inch global positioning system rooftop antenna and a rooftop air conditioning unit, plus associated equipment.

An antenna array proposed for the roof will be in a cylinder designed to resemble a pipe vent, the other recessed into the wall of the southwest corner of the building. The off-white roof cylinder will be 12 feet tall and set back 25 feet from the nearest roof edge.

e-mail: tschultz@newspress.com