Great Falls residents will have to wait a while to find out if a new tree will suddenly spring up in the Old Mill Market Square. Verizon Wireless proposed building an 85-foot tall cell tower, disguised as an evergreen tree at the shopping center on the corner of Walker and Colvin Run roads. The Planning Commission deferred it decision on the new pole until Nov. 30.
In a rare situation, Planning Commission staff is opposed to the installation of the pole. Before cell phone towers can be built or antennae can be installed on buildings, the Planning Commission must review the proposal in terms of its location, character and extent. This review is referred to as a 2232 after the section of the state code where it appears.
"The tree pole would appear out of character," said Anita Capps of the Department of Planning and Zoning. Nearby trees are only 20-50 feet tall, meaning this would be much taller, Capps said.
Residents came to speak against the proposal, noting that it would be situated in the midst of the historic area of Great Falls. "I think the underlying fear is that the area's losing its historic character," said John Ulfelder of the Great Falls Citizen's Association. "Just one more thing just subtracts a little bit more."
Planning Commissioner Frank de la Fe (Hunter Mill) pointed out that there are tree monopoles already in historic areas such as Mount Vernon.
Commissioner Janet Hall (Mason) said that tree pole are generally well disguised and fade into the background. "I think only Planning Commissioners look for tree poles," she said.
Capps said that in Mount Vernon, the pole is already in a treed area, where it is difficult to notice.
The area around the proposed pole is part of a large "dead zone" for cell phone reception, said David Lasso, attorney for Verizon. "This is the lowest height this antenna can be placed in order to have the problems resolved," he said.
Doris Leadbetter, who works in the area near the proposed pole, came to support it. She also noted that there is no cell phone reception in the area, and said a tree pole would be the best option. "There are a lot of trees in that area," she said. "A tree, I don't think, you'd be able to make out."