LYNN -- A proposal to place a cell phone tower atop a Lynn Shore Drive church was met with overwhelming criticism at a neighborhood meeting held this week, according to those in attendance.
The Christian Science Church, 153 Lynn Shore Drive, agreed to meet with neighbors Tuesday night before they formally submitted a proposal to the city to place a five to six foot tower on the building. The church was recently approached by Nextel about installing a tower, but would need City Council approval before it was erected.
The tower proposal calls for several antennas to be placed in the northwest direction of the building, not facing the ocean.
"The neighborhood seems adamantly opposed to it," said Ward 3 City Councilor Darren Cyr about the meeting that drew about 50 people. "(Residents) feel this would be the start of the commercialization of the area."
From health concerns related to radiation emitted by cell phone towers to aesthetics, Cyr said abutters were overwhelmingly opposed to a cell phone tower in a residential neighborhood like the Diamond District.
"I don't think Nextel realizes that this is an area that doesn't even have cable television," he said. "As an elected official, I have to stick with the neighbors."
A comment was not immediately available from the Christian Science Church Wednesday.
George Meimetteas is a realtor who lives 20 feet away from the church. He attended the meeting and said the tower would be the beginning of the end of the neighborhood's residential character.
"My biggest concern is that all the home's values would be dramatically affected," he said. "It's a great neighborhood and we want to keep the commercialization out."
The city approved a cell tower ordinance earlier this year that seeks to encourage the placement of cell towers on municipal buildings. Anyone proposing to erect a tower must prove that it is not feasible to build on a municipal property before a proposal is approved for the placement on a private or commercial property.
Cyr said the ordinance was brought up at the meeting, but that there are no municipal buildings in the Diamond District.
Despite the criticism, church officials can still submit a proposal for city review.
Posted on Thursday, August 17 @ 18:30:47 UTC by admin
Previous Article 
