Parks Commission OKs wireless change Parks Commission OKs wireless change (September 17, 2004)

More wireless facilities may be popping up
by Teresa C. Brown

Cell telephone coverage in town may be improving. The Parks and Recreation Commission voted 5-0 on Sept. 9 to approve revising the current ordinance restricting wireless communication facilities from being located within 300 feet of a park. It voted to allow the wireless facilities after 100 feet.

The reduced restriction was coupled with the condition that the commission be allowed to review facility design plans and make additional recommendations if the facility will be located within 300 feet of a park.

The commissioners agreed to the ordinance change, which was a compromise: Wireless organizations were hoping that the restrictions would be reduced to within 50 feet of a park, while opponents sought to keep the restriction at 300 feet.

Mark Smith, who served on the committee that developed the original ordinance, spoke against the change. "The policy has served us well for over five years. At this moment, I can't see any reason to change it," he said.

Ellen Magnie of Cingular Wireless told the commission that an ordinance change would probably serve a majority of residents. "There are probably very few homes in Pleasanton that don't have a cell phone residing at them," she said.

Some of the commissioners were hesitant to reduce the restriction to 50 feet. "I have a thing about something that works a long time and drastically changing it," said Commissioner Karen Ellgas.

"I'm skittish about 50 feet; it's a drastic change," agreed Commissioner Jim Dibiase. "I think I could support a larger number."

On July 14, in their five-year review of the ordinance, the city's Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Parks and Recreation Commission also take a look at the proposed reduction. The Planning Commission had voted 3-2 to keep the park buffer at 300 feet.

The City Council will review the reduction proposal at its meeting Sept. 21.

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