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Countryway Cell Tower OK'd

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By ANGELA DELGADO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

COUNTRYWAY - After 18 months of community meetings and petitions, the county has approved the construction of a 155-foot T-Mobile cell tower in the Countryway neighborhood.

Hearing Master Steve Luce gave his approval May 20.

"We've been working on it for a long time and, as always, our objective is to provide better service to customers," said T-Mobile spokeswoman Ann Brooks. "Anything we can do to improve our network we look at as a positive."

For some Countryway residents, the decision was anything but.

"Obviously, we're disappointed," said resident Peter Esseff. "But we're going ahead with the appeal, and we have other things in the works."

Those opposing the decision have 30 days to file an appeal.

Brooks said T-Mobile plans to immediately begin construction if the appeal is denied. The company proposed the tower in the community because of a need for enhanced coverage.

The tower, which will resemble a flag pole, complete with flag, will be at 11501 Country Hollow Drive, which is one-fifth of a mile from Lowry Elementary School and adjacent to the northeast corner of the Countryway baseball field parking lot.

"You will not be able to use that park with that tower there," said resident Dan Bisaillon. "That tower is physically in play when it comes to how that area is used."

Two public meetings were held by the homeowners association in late 2006 to discuss the tower. The board agreed to lease the land to T-Mobile, even though a number of residents in the community had concerns. T-Mobile will pay the community $1,500 a month for five years, plus $500 a month for each carrier that co-locates on the tower. Sprint has expressed interest.

Calls to Countryway board member James Kannard, who was president of the association when it voted to lease the property to T-Mobile, were not returned.

Kannard was the only person to speak in favor of the tower at the April zoning hearing. He told Luce that the tower would provide better service and capability to call 911 for those who only use cell phones at home. He also thought the flag in the neighborhood would be patriotic.

Current president David Reese, who wasn't a member of the board when it approved the lease, said he is also in favor of the tower. Reese said that his approval of the tower got him elected.

"I think we need it," he said. "Countryway is, like, 10 years old, and there are some things that could use a little upkeep, and that's where I see that this extra money could help."

Reese said that most people he has spoken to in the neighborhood are in favor of the tower but that they aren't voicing their opinions loudly.

"They are the quiet majority," he said. "I think these people trying to fight it are going to cost Countryway money. We're going to have to increase the assessments to pay for these improvements."

It will take anywhere from two weeks to 30 days to construct the tower, Brooks said. That includes the 60-by-60-foot area it will stand in, as well as the landscaping that will go along the eastern and southern boundary.

"We're going to fight it right up to the end," Esseff said. "We don't expect to have that tower in front of us. We'll take any means we have at our disposal to fight this. Believe me, there will be no tower."

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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