Rooftop Antennas in Historic District Produce Histrionic Response

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Some residents of Breckenridge, CO are clashing with Verizon Wireless over a proposal to install nine screened antennas on a 41-foot tall, three-story building in the town’s historic district, citing environmental, and aesthetic concerns. According to a report from Summit Daily, Verizon has worked closely with the city throughout the application process to mitigate the concerns of residents.

“Our goal is to always be a good neighbor, wherever we build a cell site,” a statement from Verizon read. Verizon’s application, filed on December 10, called attention to the urgency of boosting coverage in the Breckenridge area, noting that the existing site in Snowberry “cannot support the data traffic in the large area it covers and is already frequently overloaded,” causing 4G speeds to drop sharply.

Verizon plans to screen the antennas, making them look like part of the building from the street and barely visible, but residents like C.J. Milmoe are not satisfied. Milmoe lives close to the proposed site of the new facility and worries that allowing one facility inside the historic district will open the floodgates for other modifications, according to Summit Daily. Residents skeptical of the project have the support of the Summit County Republican Committee, who filed a resolution opposing Verizon’s application on the grounds that Verizon has not provided sufficient proof that the antennas are necessary.

Committee chair Kim McGahey told Summit Daily, “If the planning commission does approve this, then that opens the door and sets the precedent for more unsightly and disturbing antennas.” The town’s planning commission voted on January 30 to defer a decision until its February 20 meeting.

February 23, 2018

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