St. Ambrose Church, Larchmont Charter School, Verizon Wireless and residents of West Hollywood, CA, have been in a months-long discussion about possible cell antennas being installed in the church’s tower. At its December 3, meeting, the West Hollywood Planning Commission denied Verizon’s application. Verizon, however, is appealing that decision.
Parents of children at the school, which is adjacent to the church, have cited several reasons for the opposition to the antennas at 1271 N. Fairfax Ave. near Fountain. In fact, more than 700 people signed an online petition, according to WEHOVille.com. Additionally, an unknown number submitted letters and emails to city staff and commission members. Opposition reasons included harming the church’s appearance and historic nature; health of Larchmont students and residents; and a possible collapse of the antennas inside the church.
Even though Verizon representatives said that the antennas would be inside the tower and that they submitted evidence that the area surrounding Fairfax and Fountain Avenues that the area was lacking in coverage, the planning commission said “they didn’t believe Verizon made a good case for the need for the cell tower,” WEHOVille.com reported.
Verizon’s appeal states that “the planning commission ‘lacked substantial evidence’ in its denial and that the denial is a violation of federal law. Federal law requires local government bodies to have substantial evidence to justify their denial of installation of a cellular antenna.” The city council can overturn the planning commission’s decisions, and in the meantime Verizon is sending a free text to customers to ask for support of the antennas.
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