WGNA Approves Two Position Papers
— the first on a wireless antenna slimline monopole in the Gardner Neighborhood;
— the second on the Page Street Development by Charities Housing
Two Position Papers were approved by the WGNA Board of Directors at their June 14th, 2018 meeting. The first position paper, referring to the antenna in the Gardner neighborhood, is finalized and now published here online at our website. The second paper will be drafted soon and relates to a position in support of the Page Street development project by Charities Housing.
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Ref. Mobilitie Wireless Antenna: a San Jose Special Use Permit to allow the installation of a new 60-foot Wireless Communication Antenna Slimline Monopole within a new 6-foot block wall compound along the perimeter landscaping on a 0.45 gross acre site. Location: Northeast Corner of Prevost Street, and Jerome Street, San Jose. City of San Jose Planning Reference Number: SP17-044.
(Action) Recommendation to approve a draft Position Paper that is due for a separate Greater Gardner meeting on June 21 at the Gardner Community Center. -
Ref. The Page Street Development: a project development by Charities Housing;
(Action) Recommendation to approve the draft of a position paper in support of the Page Street Development project (after tonight’s guest speaker’s presentation). This draft item was postponed after the last WGNA Board meeting for May.
Click here for a PDF formatted copy of the position paper endorsed on 2018, June 14, ref. Mobilitie Wireless Antenna — the position paper references a City of San Jose Special Use Permit to allow the installation of a new 60-foot Wireless Communication Antenna Slimline Monopole within a new 6-foot block wall compound along the perimeter landscaping on a 0.45 gross acre site. The project location/address is at the northeast corner of Prevost Street, and Jerome Street, San Jose. The Applicant is Mobilitie, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. The city's project Reference Number is SP17-044; and number 2017 039775 DV. The WGNA position paper was endorsed by the WGNA Board and reads in part:
Mobilitie LLC proposes a cell tower installation for T-Mobile in a site 80 feet from the nearest residential property line. This will affect Gardner neighborhood residents, even if they are not directly benefiting from the wireless service...
June 21st Meeting in Gardner re. Wireless Antenna Slimline Monopole
The canvassing flier in the below will be handed out to residents in the greater Gardner neighborhood.
This is for a special meeting on June 21, 2018, at the Gardner Community Center, which will occur prior to our regular WGNA Board meeting on June 14th at the Willow Glen Library (Minnesota Avenue). Both meetings are an open house for everyone.
A position paper will be discussed at the June 14th meeting, as well as presentations.
For questions, please contact WGNA Board Members Jeremy Taylor and Rowan Pike, who live in Gardner, or contact WGNA's Greater Gardner Committee by email at [email protected]
Also see a PDF formatted document of the above flier here.
POSITION PAPER
Thursday 14 June 2018
Primary Addressee: Robert Rivera, Planning Project Manager, City of San Jose ([email protected])
Reference Number: SP17-044. Number: 2017 039775 DV
Description: Special Use Permit to allow the installation of a new 60-foot Wireless Communication Antenna Slimline Monopole within a new 6-foot block wall compound along the perimeter landscaping on a 0.45 gross acre site.
Project Location/Address: Northeast Corner of Prevost Street, and Jerome Street, San Jose
Applicant: Mobilitie (31878 Del Obispo Street #118-454; San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675)
Summary
Mobilitie LLC proposes a cell tower installation for T-Mobile in a site 80 feet from the nearest residential property line. This will affect Gardner neighborhood residents, even if they are not directly benefiting from the wireless service.
- 60 ft cell tower will be located in open area with unobstructed view of the structure
- The cell tower is only for 4G, which is at the end of its lifecycle
- Infrastructure is not appropriate for 5G, unless at an extremely high emission intensity
- Infrastructure brings a blighted industrial character to Gardner, & it won’t feel safe or inviting
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Cumulative property value drop:
- 25 homes affected
- $200K price drop each
- $5M in losses to owners
Impact & Considerations
The 60 ft tall infrastructure is designed for 4G, which is considered at the end its lifecycle. It would emit electromagnetic (EM) radiation 24/7 and would be inappropriate to adapt for 5G, which requires a much higher emission intensity. The cell tower will change the perception of the neighborhood and impact surrounding property values.
This negative impact would be incurred at a cost to the neighborhood for an infrastructure that is inappropriate and unnecessary for 5G technology.
With the increasing need for wireless technology, we must be strategic when considering the long-term future impact of wireless antennas being installed within close proximity to our homes, offices, and schools. This can be accomplished by verifying the necessity and available options to help mitigate the impact. If deemed absolutely necessary, then thoughtful design and landscaping can be incorporated, plus additional funds set aside to offset the impact such as a dog park or native plant habitat. If we do nothing now, then our ability to influence the outcome would be greatly limited.
See the endorsing signatures, and an exhibit on the next page [an example of a wireless communication antenna slimline monopole].
This position is endorsed by the majority vote of the Board of Directors of Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA), a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation organized under California Corporations Code and U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Section 501(c)(4). Willow Glen Neighborhood Association has been servicing the greater Willow Glen neighborhood, and its San Jose Greenprint Planning Area, since 1973 (45 years).
Elizabeth Estensen,
Board President
Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA)
Jonathan Harris
Gardner neighborhood Household Residents, &
Greater gardner Committee members, WGNA
Exhibit
The below picture is an example of a wireless communication antenna slimline monopole.
