Broward County, FL residents are pushing back on seven new towers set to be built by April 2019, the Sun Sentinel reported. Four cities in the county will be receiving towers, but Hollywood will have one on each side of town, making them the only city to have two. One 325-foot tower, set for approval this Wednesday October 24, is going up inside of West Lake Park in Hollywood and is at the center of the controversy.
Residents expressed concern about it being in the park and its proximity to residential neighborhoods. The proposed site will be double the height of a nearby water tower.
Citizens’ concerns about the tower are the appearance, how it will withstand hurricanes, lower property values, and affect child safety. Jose De Zayas, radio system administrator in Broward, assured residents the towers will be built strong enough to endure a Category 5 hurricane, but he was less confident about the 25-foot antenna that will sit on top. De Zayas also said the towers pose no health risk to residents, although some of the public is not reassured by these claims.
Disagreeing with predictions from residents that property values may go down, Jose De Zayas commented, “It’s speculation whether it’s going to drop or not. It might go up. We don’t know.”
According to the Sun Sentinel, residents and Hollywood officials have offered up alternatives to the tower going in West Lake Park. Citizens suggested moving the location to Anne Kolb Nature Center and city officials presented the option of antennas being installed on downtown buildings or on towers at the beach.
Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said, “The bottom line [is], there’s no good place for a 300-foot tower. We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. We’re not happy about it. I wish there were other alternatives.”
October 22, 2018
