The residents don't want Sprint building a 195-foot tower at East Tampa Christian Church, however disguised.
By JANET ZINK
Published May 28, 2004
A group of Palm River residents is mobilizing to keep a 195-foot cell tower out of the neighborhood. East Tampa Christian Church wants to lease 2 acres of its 5 acres to Sprint so the company can build the tower on land at the edge of the parcel.
Neighbors have posted signs, written letters to the county and hired an attorney to help keep the tower out.
"It equals 20 stories. I feel a 20-story structure does not belong in a residential neighborhood," said Toni Cusmano, who lives next to the church.
Church leaders say the monthly income from the telecommunications company would help pay for outreach efforts.
"We feed a lot of neighborhood kids that come in on Wednesday nights," said Curtis Carter, associate minister of the church, 7824 24th Ave. S. "A lot of them have broken homes."
The 30-year-old church has about 70 members, Carter said. The deal with Sprint emerged as an answer to his congregation's prayers, he said.
"Like any other nonprofit, we struggle at times. We had been praying for support, and then Sprint approached us, and it was a win-win situation," he said, declining to reveal financial details.
"It's not a great deal (of money), but it's going to help support our ministry," he said.
The land has an agricultural zoning that allows cell towers, but Sprint needs to get a special use permit from the county to build the tower. The company offered to camouflage it, but residents say cosmetics is not their concern.
"We don't want a 200-foot clock, a 200-foot tree," Cusmano said. "We don't want the tower at all."
Cusmano and her neighbors worry about safety. Dozens of letters opposing the project and filed with the county talk about the tower attracting lightning, falling over onto houses and posing health risks that some think are associated with cell phone towers. They also say the tower will reduce property values.
What's next
A land use hearing officer is scheduled to consider a request by Sprint to allow a 195-foot cell tower on property owned by East Tampa Christian Church in Palm River. The hearing is at 9 a.m. June 25 at the County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd.
