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Tower's reception improves with time

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published October 15, 2006

What's happening with the proposed 150-foot cell phone tower near the Skyway Plaza Shopping Center in St. Petersburg?

More than a year ago, some rankled residents of the neighborhood vowed to fight off Ridan Industries' plan to build a wireless communication tower on 62nd Avenue S.

Residents cited aesthetic concerns about the steel tower in a residential area and possible health implications of long-term exposure to it. More than 100 people signed petitions against the tower.

The issue generated a fair amount of discord and division among members of the Greater Pinellas Point Civic Association. Some members who vigorously opposed it lived within yards of the proposed site. Others lived a mile away.

In February, the city's Environmental Development Commission unanimously approved Ridan Industries' request for a setback variance, making way for construction of the tower.

"It's a done deal; the pole is now up," said Claude Jenet, vice president of the civic association.

Jenet said wireless carriers will begin using the cell tower to relay signals in the next two weeks or so, bringing reliable cell phone service to residents.

"Some people east of 34th Street S didn't have cell phone service at home, so they were most anxious to get the antenna built," Jenet said.

At one point, Ridan Industries offered to appease dissenters by disguising the tower as a flag pole complete with an American flag, but not all the residents supported the idea, Jenet said.

But now that the wrangling is over and the cell tower is up, things have settled down, he added.

"You can't make everybody happy all the time, but at least they can use their cell phones at home now."

On Tuesday, Ridan Industries president Kevin Barile will give a presentation on the cell tower. Also on the agenda, a discussion and vote on the city's traffic plan, including requests for speed humps. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Bay Vista Recreation Center, Pinellas Point Drive S and Fourth Street S.

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The Northeast Park Neighborhood Association will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Masonic Home, 3201 First St NE. St. Petersburg police Officer J. Harris will speak on crime prevention strategies, and nominations will be taken for the 2007 officers and board of directors.

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The Jungle Terrace Civic Association will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Walter Fuller Recreation Center, 7891 26th Ave. N. A social starts at 6:45 p.m.

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The Edgemoor Neighborhood Association will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mangrove Bay Golf Course Club House, 875 62nd Ave. N. On the agenda: picnic news, jai-alai team report, police report and Halloween safety watch.

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The Central Oak Park Neighborhood Association will meet Tuesday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 4444 Fifth Ave. N. Crime Watch meets at 6:30 p.m., and the general meeting begins at 7 p.m. Ken Jones, St. Petersburg's economic development coordinator, will speak.

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The Lakewood Estates Neighborhood Watch will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Petersburg Country Club, 2000 Country Club Road. St. Petersburg police Detective Chris McClure will discuss what to watch out for with regard to sexual predators and offenders.

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Attention: Neighborhood Notebook will move to Wednesdays beginning next week.

Readers wanting to submit neighborhood news and meeting information for Neighborhood Notebook can contact Lorrie Lykins by e-mail at SPTimeslistings@yahoo.com The deadline for items submitted for inclusion in the Wednesday edition of Neighborhood Times is noon Monday.

[Last modified October 14, 2006, 19:48:38]