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Community Corner

Reception To New Tuscany Hills Cell Tower Gets Static; Residents Concerned About Possible Health Risks To Kids

The tower is slated for construction in Tuscany Hills Community Park, which is adjacent to Tuscany Hills Elementary and its nearly 700 students. This has some local residents concerned.

“Can you hear me now” in Tuscany Hills?

may be getting a new cell tower, but not everyone is pleased about more bars on their phones. The park is adjacent to and its nearly 700 students, and locating a cell tower so close to children has some people in the community very upset.

The Lake Elsinore Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the new T-Mobile cell phone tower inside Tuscany Hills Community Park last month.

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The plan calls for T-Mobile Towers to replace one of the park’s existing ball field’s light poles with a cellular antenna that doubles as a field light pole.

The tower will be the about the same size as the ball field light it’s replacing and will be gated to avoid vandalism.

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According to a written statement provided by T-Mobile, there should be no increased noise pollution emitted from the tower.

Despite the reassurances, the tower worries some.

“I am not happy about it,” said Tuscany Hills resident and parent Gabriela Rivers. “The tower is bad for the kids and the environment.”

Tuscany Hills resident Robert Hartford is concerned about the health risks posed by the tower on himself and his two young daughters. He works in the telecommunications field and believes “this location is far too close (to children) and I'm amazed that the city would even consider it.”

Hartford wants the site to be relocated further away from the school.

But T-Mobile insists the towers pose no health risks.

“T-Mobile's use of radio frequency is the same type of energy used for baby monitors, radio and television broadcasting and cordless telephones at home,” the company said in its written statement. “The FCC provides strong regulation of the wireless industry by setting conservative, science-based guidelines to protect public health. T-Mobile sites meet or exceed all applicable federal, state and local safety standards.”

City Manager Robert A. Brady said he is siding with science.

“I am not aware of any harm from the operation of these towers,” he said.

The American Cancer Society, the World Health Organization, the National Toxicology Program, the International Agency for Research on Cancer , and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have all published statements indicating that cell towers don’t cause health problems.

But studies are ongoing and in 2009 the European parliament voted for tougher regulations to keep mobile phone towers and other electromagnetic emitting devices away from schools because of “uncertain health risks.”

The FCC gives cities the authority to decide wireless tower locations. Brady said the site was selected by T-Mobile Towers and that the city is in agreement after reviewing all the facts.

T-Mobile Towers said in its statement that Tuscany Hills Community Park is the only “viable” location.

Local resident Russel Tramell is not worried about any potential health risks that may be posed by the proposed tower.

“If it makes the cell phone service better, then good.”

The Lake Elsinore Planning Commission is still negotiating how much to charge T-Mobile Towers to lease the site, Brady said. Once negotiations are complete, the city will need to give its final approval.

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