Not So Relieved  

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The Relief Nursery in Springfield, Oregon, gives aid to at-risk children and families, and employees are concerned about a proposed Verizon cell tower near the facility. The Springfield City Council will discuss the tower proposal at their meeting this evening. The Eugene Weekly reported, “Executive Director Kelly Sutherland and others at the Relief Nursery are worried that a proposed Verizon cell phone tower might pose a danger to the children and families who come there for the therapeutic nursery school and other classes [offered].” The staff isn’t concerned about the possible RF emissions, or that it would be an eyesore, like residents worried about with the proposed AT&T tower at the Crossfire Ministries Church. Instead, they are worried about what would happen if the 85-foot tower fell. “In a residential zone, Sutherland says, there is a setback equal to the height of the facility in order to ensure public safety. The area where the Springfield Relief Nursery is located, however, is zoned as community commercial without that requirement. The location for the proposed cell tower is only 21 feet from the Relief Nursery’s property line. The Relief Nursery has two playgrounds and classrooms on the property, and board member Jennifer Ulum says she thinks the Relief Nursery should be treated as a school,” the Eugene Weekly reported. Springfield City Planner Andy Limbird says that the City Council “could require the tower to be redesigned or relocated but it would need to be for substantive reasons, such as addressing a specific, valid concern raised at the public hearing.” (Eugene Weekly) The Council will meet at 5:30 tonight to discuss the Relief Nursery’s concerns and the tower application.

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