Cell Phone Tower Proposal Denied

Des Plaines City Aldermen denied T-Mobile’s proposal to build a cell phone tower after nearby residents voiced concerns over property devaluation and health problems.

The proposal would have permitted T-Mobile to construct a 100-foot-tall lattice within 100 feet of local residences on the 800 block of East Central Road.

Residents said the structure would have been an eyesore and would have a negative impact on their home values.

“Don’t allow this to go into an area where it shouldn’t be,” said Roger Johnson to city aldermen, a nearby resident on North Third Ave.

Residents were also concerned about the possibility of health problems related to being so close to a cell phone tower.

Aside from providing better reception and cell phone service to T-Mobile customers in the area, the tower would have improved emergency communications for city fire and police officials, said Mike Howley, an authorized agent for the company.

T-Mobile began leasing property on the 800 block of Central Road in 2009 shortly after zoning codes in the area changed. The area, which is surrounded by power lines and a water tower, was originally intended to house a fourth city fire station, city officials said at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Most cell phone providers aim to partner with competitors or use existing structures when they want to add antennas in an area to provide stronger signals, Howley said. The roof of is one location that houses nearby cell phone antennas. Providers need to have several locations to place antennas, which are low-strength.

Had the proposal been approved, the city would have received about $27,000 a year from its lease with the company, totaling about $1.4 million over the course of 25 years. The company’s current lease is a 5-year lease and T-Mobile has the option to renew its lease every five years for 25 years.

Aldermen did suggest the option of having the T-Mobile attach its antennas to the existing overhead wires in the area, which are owned by ComEd. If that were to happen, city officials would have to make changes to local zoning ordinances, said City Attorney David Wiltse.

Howley asked city officials what the chances of approving such a partnership would be, and the discussion was left open-ended.