The Los Altos City Council unanimously agreed Feb. 10 to establish a cell phone task force to monitor the placement of wireless towers in town following recent community outrage over the approval of two antennas near residential neighborhoods.
The city has 14 towers in place, with two sites approved for future towers, and city officials anticipate more.
While part of the group’s charge is to act as a watchdog over the placement of towers, its other duty includes working with providers to improve cell phone reception in Los Altos.
Though the intent of the task force is to be proactive and target locations for towers before providers approach the city, Los Altos may find its hands tied. Federal restrictions prohibiting local limitations on cell towers coupled with an increase in cellular antennas over recent years have placed cities, including Los Altos, in a tough predicament.
Legally, Los Altos can’t ban cell towers from the city or deny a permit based on health effects if the towers fall under nationally accepted emission levels, according to the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The only authority city officials have regarding cell towers is their placement and appearance. As a result, providers may apply for a conditional use permit, and there is little the city can do.
“Our hands are tied. The federal government is in the driver’s seat,” said City Manager Phil Rose. “We can’t say no … because we don’t like it. It’s a conditional use.”
The city put guidelines in place in 1997 to encourage providers to place towers in commercial areas based on aesthetic considerations.
Under the guidelines, providers are encouraged to place towers in commercial areas. They are discouraged from residential properties.
Residents bombarded the council earlier this month after discovering that the city had given Verizon the go-ahead to install a 49-foot tower in the Giffin Road neighborhood and Mountain View had approved a tower adjacent to Los Altos homes. Community Development Director James Walgren said the emission levels fall within federal health standards. The Fremont Avenue/Giffin Road site property is designated as Public and Community Facilities, he added.
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