More cell towers?

[January 1st, 2009]

Good and reliable cell phone reception is in place in Hood River today. Yet applications for new towers continue to be made resulting in an increase in these visually intrusive towers- often 150 feet in height – that awkwardly juxtapose surrounding land uses (like neighborhoods).

New tower are built for a variety of reasons, yet some perhaps only to improve an applicant's competitive position in the market. Co-location, where more than one provider will use an existing tower, is one possible solution but is not often enough pursued largely because there's no cell tower/facility ordinance in place. The result is haphazardly sited towers throughout the valley.

While the value of cell towers in general isn’t contested, there are no standards in the Hood River County Zoning Code upon which to evaluate them. Potential standards include restrictions such as height, appearance and location.

Why should HR citizens be concerned?Towers are likely to lower property values where homes' viewsheds will be impacted. Additionally, debate continues over whether the electronic emissions from such facilities cause health risks or interfere with local emergency service transmissions, TV and radio broadcasts.

What is HRVRC doing about this? Since 2001 HRVRC has commented on proposed towers and expressed concern about the absence of criteria for evaluating applciations. HRVRC continues to work proactively with Hood River County planners to create an ordinance that does take into account the public interest. The ordinance should be in place by mid-2009.

Because the development of a wireless communication facility ordinance is in process, HRVRC urges that all applications for cell towers be put on hold–-that a moratorium on their approval be declared–-until that ordinance is in place.