Residents in Gilbert, AZ said they were surprised last week when they discovered that a 5G pole had been approved for their neighborhood. As Iuliana and Ovidiu Chiscar told KPHO-TV, they only learned about the construction when Verizon notified them the night before. They are particularly concerned because the easement hosting the site is in their front yard.
“Do we want a 40-foot tower with a giant dome on top in somebody’s yard?” neighbor, Jake Given asked. “How’s that going to impact my home prices? Sure, somebody might say I get better cell phone service, but I get four bars already.”
The Town of Gilbert is required by state law to approve small cell pole installations in established rights-of-way, notes KPHO-TV.
In a statement issued by the town, administration officials said they’ve worked closely with the providers in an attempt to place the small cells in locations that will minimize any impacts. The statement read: “Gilbert has adopted engineering and aesthetic requirements, as allowed by state law. Again, the legislation limits the ability of the Town to restrict the location of the poles within the right-of-way.”
“There’s no need for a 5G tower in front of our house, in front of all these homes and families and kids, exposing children and animals,” agreed Iuliana Chiscar.
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