On March 18, Montrose County officials met in the second part of the two-step process for potentially approving a 150-foot cell tower in Redvale, one that the majority of landowners didn’t want. County Planning and Development Director Tallmadge Richmond, who explained the tower site in question was at 37200 II Rd. in Redvale, said Montrose County’s master plan designates the location for agriculture and rural residential. There are guiding principles that must be followed in such a permit, regarding noise, traffic and health of the environment, but county staff said the tower does fit the master plan if permitted properly.
The Montrose County Board of Commissioners received many public comments about the tower, most all of them in opposition. Richmond said there was a 150-day shot clock on the application, already a 45-day extension had been in place, expiring March 26.
Mike Powers, of Boulder and representative of Atlas Tower, spoke in defense of the tower. He said there’s a network issue and the Redvale tower could solve it. He’s spoken to officials from the Scenic Byway organizations, and according to him, there’s no problem. In fact, since there aren’t petroglyphs or canyons, the byway theoretically ends before it reaches Redvale.
Powers said while there’s a 100-foot pole in the area, it won’t suit the needs of Verizon, as something structural impacted it. He said though the local internet and wireless provider (NNTC), has claimed they have a roaming agreement with Verizon, he said Verizon is unaware of any such agreement.
Powers showed a coverage map of cell service, demonstrating need. He added he’s not seeking variances and that the tower project is permittable. He added some 24 power poles already exist — so what’s the difference?
He also told commissioners if they based a decision on radio-frequencies and fear for public health, their decision could be overturned by a higher level of authority. Governments can be held accountable for that decision, since the feds say the frequencies are safe.
Next came public comment. Hack Reed, of Redvale, said he wants “honesty” about the Scenic Byway. He asked where it really stops. Additionally, he called for studies to be done in the U.S. on the 4G. He said Europe is studying it.
“I don’t think it’s right,” he said.
He added the tower will be “200-odd feet” from his home, could drop his property value by 20% and that all should “check (their) moral compass.”
Tina Reed, of Redvale, said she came to Redvale to retire in the peacefulness of the area. She enjoys the birds, wildlife and views. She and her neighbors, family and friends feel the tower is a bad idea.
Brian Reed, of Redvale, said he’s heard this story before. A Uravan native, he said many in his family have dealt with cancers and he’s watched them die.
“We’ve been told our whole lives things aren’t bad for you,” he said.
He referenced asbestos too. He also called for U.S. studies on radiation.
Rebecca Rogers, of Norwood and president of the Redvale community Building and Ute Trail Study Club, said none of her friends or associates want the tower.
"If Verizon does’t work for you, go for another entity,” she said.
She added people are used to dead spots in cell service; that’s part of living in a remote, rural area.
She said the way the tower would extend a signal in its five-mile radius makes little since, since its territory ends in sparse neighborhoods, oil and gas fields or hunting camps. Rogers warned of big company authority.
“Give an inch, they’ll take a mile,” she said.
Cindy Reed, of Redvale, said her home has a waterfall, fire pit and is worth something. She’s upset about the devaluation the tower could very well do to her home. She can’t find a 5G study online regarding humans. She wants to know who’s going to pay the medical bills when everyone in Redvale ends up with cancers.
“Are we going to wait 20 years to find out?” she asked.
She said in the U.K., a recent study exists that proves a high number of plants and animals have been negatively impacted by 5G. Her property will be 160 feet from the tower, she said.
Tarrun Richardson, of Redvale, said there are other options for the tower. He also wants to know if Montrose County is going to give locals a property-tax break, since their home values will decrease. And, will the Redvale applicant receiving checks every month get higher property taxes?
“We are going to lose at his gain,” he said.
Kate Gray, of Naturita, used to live by the proposed site. She said she has Verizon service, and it worked fine there.
Jane Thompson, of Nucla, asked if anyone got in touch with local historians. She has plenty to share about Redvale. She’s disappointed a tower has been approved to be placed next to her house in Nucla, and without public input.
What’s more is that she’s the local historian and leader of the Rimrocker Historical Society for the West End. For the Nucla tower, they brought in someone from Tucson to do an assessment. Thompson wonders why people aren’t coming to the local historians. Thompson is also on the Scenic Byway committee. She’s offended by the dismissal of aesthetic quality in Redvale.
“You can’t say that a cliff outside of Uravan is any more beautiful than a hayfield on the Uncompahgre in Redvale,” she said. “That’s an insult.”
Thompson said she feels for the Redvale property owners. She will lose money on her trailer house in Nucla, but it doesn’t compare to the pricier Redvale homes that will be affected.
“Don’t let that happen to these people,” she said. “There are plenty of places up the hill where they can put this.”
She also said to pay attention: Clearnetworx is the company aiming to get in on both towers — in Redvale and Nucla.
Stanley Reiva, of Redvale, is a fourth-generation agriculturist. He’s worried about financial impacts, real estate values, modernization of the area, scenery and that the infrastructure they implement being wrecked and worked on.
Earlene Antonelli, of Nucla, owns seven acres in Redvale. She wonders if it’s not really about giving service but about making money.
Bowers, in his rebuttal, said it’s better for a tower to be very close in proximity for health reasons, since hand-held devices could cause more danger by working to pick up a farther signal, according to studies he is reading.
Commissioner Sue Hansen asked about lowering height. Powers said the minimum height for the tower to work would be 120 feet. Hansen also asked about camouflaging, but Powers said that seemed a moot point with the other poles in the area. Commissioner Sean Pond asked about moving it. Powers said no other location would really do. Commissioner Scott Mijares asked about the business model, which Powers explained. Mijares also asked about antennas potentially falling and crashing into the road. Powers said they can withstand wind and are built to code; modern towers don’t fall over.
Legal counsel Marty Whitmore for Montrose County confirmed local governments cannot limit cell phone provision of personal wireless facilities, if the companies are in compliance with radio frequencies. She added the zoning allows it and the federal law limits county discretion. She said the county could modify or increase requirements, but at this time, the regulations are as they’ve been adopted. She said the tower has to comply, and the county has to abide by federal law.
“Basically, federal law has put us in a very difficult situation,” Mirjares said.
Hansen added it was difficult to be up in front of friends and neighbors and make the decision.
“It’s no fun,” she said.
In the end, commissioners approved the tower with limitations of 120 feet.
Tina Reed told the Forum after the meeting, she believed the opposers did what they could.
“Being unable to speak to the health risks of this energy, because the FCC can sue local governments for a decision made by them for this reason is very disturbing,” she said. “We will now have a cell tower that is not needed or wanted in the middle of our neighborhood, and this is very unfair, given that there is so much land available in this area for something like this.”
Reed said county land use code regulations, regarding cell towers in rural communities, need updated.
“It should not be allowed for one person to override the majority and profit at the detriment of others,” she said.
But she’s grateful for those who stood up.
“I am proud of our friends, family and neighbors that helped make our efforts known,” she said. “Thanks to Montrose County Planning & Development for their efforts to allow us to attend the meetings here,” she said. “If things are going to change, we the people need to get busy and not wait for someone else to save us.”
