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Sprint to look elsewhere to construct cell tower

It says it'll go back to the map to find a site outside protected wetlands. That pleases an opponent of the first Westchase site.

By STEPHANIE HAYES
Published August 28, 2005

WESTCHASE - Sprint will have to roam around Westchase to find a new cell phone tower site.

A 60-foot by 60-foot wetland area of the Northwest Mitigation Bank that Sprint had hoped to lease from the county falls within a conservation area, said Buck Harvester, a manager with the county Real Estate Department.

"The spot on the map was under a conservation easement, and so they're going to look and see if one of the ones that are not meets their needs," Harvester said.

As Westchase homeowners were putting in their two cents on the issue at the Upper Tampa Bay Library on Tuesday night, Sprint was just realizing the error of its land choice, according to Sprint representative Nanci Schwartz.

"We may find a site that looks ideal, but then we have to work with local governments to find out exactly where is the wetland area," Schwartz said. "It all kind of came together at the same time and we just did find out that it was in a wetland area."

This came as good news to Shires resident Ruben Collazo, who spoke out against the tower at the public meeting. Collazo feared the tower would chase wildlife from the area.

"I couldn't be more pleased," Collazo said. "Clearly, the county has reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the natural areas of Hillsborough County."

The county and Sprint staff will reconvene next week to discuss other potential sites. Harvester said a new site could be as close as 100 feet away from the original site, or somewhere totally different.

At Tuesday's meeting, Chris Lee, a site acquisition specialist with Sprint, mentioned that it was possible for a competing cellular company to put a tower up on Westchase's private golf course, and Sprint would have to lease from the competitor.

While some residents objected to the wetland location, most, including Collazo, agreed that Westchase needs better reception.

"We obviously need better cell service in this area," he said. "My only opposition to it was the wetland."

Right now, the closest cell towers to the neighborhood are at Race Track Road and S Mobley Road, at Sheldon Road south of Gunn Highway and at the entrance to the Westfield Citrus Park mall.

- Stephanie Hayes can be reached at 813 269-5303 or shayes@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 27, 2005, 11:05:06]