Residents Near Idaho Park Opposing Tower With Petition

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More than 800 signatures are on a petition from residents in Pocatello, ID, opposing a proposed tower planned for Alameda Park. Verizon would like to build 110-foot tower and a utility building near restrooms and a school district bus pickup point in the park. Since it’s application filed with the city on May 11, residents have been up in arms about potential safety issues, radiation, noise from the cooling system and potential decline in surrounding property values.

The Idaho State Journal reported the tower would be built like a faux pine tree and include a 12- by 32-foot equipment shelter.

Monte Rasmussen, a resident of Randolph Avenue next to the park for more than 30 years, started the petition after attending a meeting with Verizon in April. He told the newspaper he was also concerned about the tower becoming “a base for other cell antennas and eventually turn that corner of Alameda Park into an ‘industrial complex’ with antennas extending up to 140 feet.

While no existing buildings in the area are tall enough for antenna, Verizon also argued in its application that there is a “significant amount of vegetation all around it, and the existing trees would provide large amounts of screening.”

The city, the newspaper reported, would receive monthly lease payments from Verizon, which plans on providing 4G LTE service with the tower. The city council will meet regarding the application and accept oral testimony on June 16, in the Pocatello City Hall.

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