Point Reyes Light - August 30, 2001

Stinson nixes phone antenna

By Gregory Foley

Directors of Stinson Beach Water District on Saturday temporarily blocked a proposal from the owner of Beckers’ by the Beach to erect two electrical sheds just east of the grocery store for a proposed wireless telephone antenna.

The decision by directors technically denied a request by building owner Hal Airey for a waiver that would have granted special permission to build the structures in a setback area that is reserved for an expansion or repair of the property’s septic system. District general manager Richard Dinges said that Beckers’ septic system has failed repeatedly in recent years and that district staff is studying how to fix it.

Director Jim Zell said that he did not want to allow the structures – two ground-level cabinets with concrete pads – to go in the proposed location immediately uphill of the 101 Calle del Mar grocery because the area may be needed for septic repairs.

"If I were granting a waiver, I feel I would be compromising the ability to fix the septic system," he said.

Director Elizabeth Sapanai said that she wanted to see the building owners come back before the board with alternative locations for the antenna boxes.

Director Charles Dutkin said that the owners’ failure to propose alternative sites for the sheds demonstrated that granting the waiver would be premature.

Some 15 town residents and business owners showed up at the water board meeting to protest the plan by Sprint PCS to install three telephone antennas in a self-described "stealth" brick chimney on top of the market. District directors informed the crowd that the district only had jurisdiction over where the electrical boxes are placed within a septic-field setback.

County planners will have final authority over whether the antenna is approved on its merits and compliance with zoning regulations.

Building owner Airey and business owner Lance Becker in March informed the county Planning Division that they have signed a contract with Sprint PCS to have a six-foot, six-inch-high antenna mounted on top of the historic building.

Antenna called safe

A Sprint consultant determined that the antenna would emit a maximum power of 1,000 watts and would comply with federal public-safety regulations for the emission of radio-frequency radiation (RFR).

However, a committee of townspeople, who fear the negative effects of RFR or do not trust the body of evidence that suggests limited RFR exposure is safe for humans, have stepped up efforts to block the antenna.

Scott Tye, owner of Off the Beach kayak and surf rentals across Highway 1 from Beckers’, presented directors with results from a survey he and Marian Weber conducted to gauge support for the Sprint proposal.

Tye said that of 187 Stinson Beach residents surveyed, 147 said they disapproved of the antenna. Tye noted that many respondents also objected to Sprint and Airey signing a contract for the antenna without first notifying the community.

After the meeting Tye praised the decision by directors not to expedite the installation of the telephone tower.

More town ‘input’ needed

"The process was flawed," he said. "It’s not right that this project has gone forward without any notification or input from the community."

Tye said that he is also concerned that two additional Stinson Beach property owners were approached by Sprint PCS to negotiate a contract to install antennas on residential property.

Guy Schwering, who lives adjacent to Beckers’, told directors he supported any decision that would prohibit the installation of a wireless antenna downtown that could "radiate our children and ourselves."

Director Joe Veit noted that despite the board’s decision, Airey and Sprint could find an alternate location for the electrical sheds that would not require directors’ approval. "The antenna could still go up," he said.

Business owner Becker was instructed to research alternative sites and present them to directors at a future meeting. Becker told directors that he believed an alternative site for the electrical boxes does exist.

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