Monroe cell-tower plan angers neighbors

MONROE — Kristie Johnson doesn’t want a cell phone tower cutting into the sky near her house.

Her home looks out on Stanton Meadows Park, five acres of green grass where her children play with the other kids who live on 149th Street SE.

T-Mobile wants to build a 65-foot tower on the other side of that park, however.

“I’m obviously concerned about health issues,” she said. “That’s my main objection. Obviously I don’t want to have to walk out my front door and look at it.”

Johnson, 32, has joined more than a dozen neighbors in an effort to convince the City Council that the tower shouldn’t be built so close to their homes.

T-Mobile wants to locate the tower on the edge of a light industrial zone, which is partially hidden to the neighborhood by an earthen berm and a row of fir trees.

When neighbors found out about the company’s plans, they objected.

Some are worried about how property values will be affected by the proposed tower, a narrow gray structure known as a monopole.

Others brought up health concerns, saying they were worried the tower would increase the risk of cancer.

The American Cancer Society believes that is unlikely.

Dr. Michael Thun, the society’s national vice president of epidemiology and surveillance research, said the strength of radio waves coming from the towers falls somewhere between an FM radio and a microwave.

“At this point there’s not evidence from the information that has been collected — which is quite extensive — of a hazard,” Thun said.

Rod De La Rosa, a spokesman for T-Mobile, said the company’s towers operate within national safety guidelines. The one proposed in Monroe will aid the company’s network, he said.

“We believe the area is best served by the peace of mind that comes with great wireless coverage,” he said.

T-Mobile’s coverage is good enough, as far as the neighborhood is concerned. Johnson said she used to be a customer and never had a dropped call.

The neighbors plan to file a formal appeal to the City Council in an attempt to relocate the tower, possibly deeper within the industrial zone.

Kari McPhail, a mother of two, is heading up that effort. She feels confident the neighborhood’s claim will convince the elected officials the tower should be moved.

“My only defense is to say you’re not following the law,” said McPhail, 32. “I feel pretty good about it.”

The appeal may argue that the city code requires a wireless structure to be hidden by trees at least 75 percent of the facility’s height.

Ben Swanson, a city planner who has worked on the tower project, said the council will get to decide if that’s a valid argument. The council has avoided discussing the issue until the appeal comes before them.

“They’re the ultimate authority on code,” Swanson said.

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.

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