T Mobile Tower… Up In The Air

In Huntington Harbour, the T Mobile Tower is still very much  up in the air.

When “What’s Up” first reported (April 25) that T-Mobile was constructing a tower next to the Harbour View School it was shortly thereafter reported that T Mobile and Huntington Beach had come to terms to move the tower. The city had agreed to give T Mobile $50,000 for lost construction costs.

Unfortunately, as attorney’s always tell us, a deal is not a deal until you have it in writing with all the signatures.

There are some conflicting stories but the council says that T Mobile changed their mind and wanted more than $50,000 and therefore the city took their offer off the table.

T Mobile has no comment on the council’s decision because its too soon to comment?  (Could be that both the city and T Mobile are in violation of some city rules.)

Measure C, which Huntington Beach citizens voted in over 20 years ago has some caveats that T Mobile might be in violation of according to the city. 

According to the city the cost of the tower changed during the negotiations.

On April 25 we ended our story with the line, “It promises to be a lively one at next Monday’s Council meeting”…however, that meeting was in closed session so we don’t know what happened.

Let’s see what happens at next week’s Council Meeting?

(go to April 25  to read the original story)

Conservation Group to Honor Nancy Donaven

The Orange County League of Conservation Voters announced their annual dinner is scheduled for Thursday, May 14 at the University Club on the UCI campus. This year Nancy Donaven Past President of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust is receiving a Special Lifetime Environmental Achievement Award for her decades of work in protecting the environment.

Other honorees are Elizabeth Lambe, for her work in stopping the toll road extension.  Jerry Collamer is also being recognized for his efforts along with the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association. Preventing the extension of this road was a huge environmental win this year and the board of the OCLCV thought it appropriate to recognize some of the leaders involved in the fight.

The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach is being recognized as the Environmental Non-Profit of the Year. They take in wild birds and mammals, which are all too often injured due to human activity. The work they do in healing injured and sick wild animals is truly commendable.

The recognition dinner is an important fundraiser for the OCLCV, which supports candidates for local office who share our concern for the health of our local environment.

For more information or to make a reservation contact Kathleen Shanfield at <kshanfield@aol.com> or call 714-270-1096 or call Linda Moon at 714-846- 2674 . Sponsorships are available.

Huntington Beach Tower May Go Away?

Huntington Beach Mayor Keith Bohr and Councilman Joe Carchio ran into a very large and angry crowd last night at a hastily put together meeting after Harbor View school parents heard a T Mobile tower was being built next to the school earlier in the day.

Apparently the anger of the crowd was anticipated because three of Huntington Beach’s finest showed up with the Mayor.

The crowd was split 50/50 between parents and nearby neighbors. It was a full house and the crowd literally “let the Mayor have it!”

Many thought the Tower might contribute to cancer.

The homeowner’s found out that anyone living within a 2½ mile radius of the tower would have to notify potential homebuyers of the tower’s existence when selling their homes. That seemed to be one of the hot buttons.

Many of those present were incensed that this project could be launched and construction even begun without the neighborhood being told anything about it. Laurie Payne, of the city’s public information office, seemed to have a better handle on the problem than any of the city representatives that were present. She said that T Mobile got a “legal over the counter permit”  and the city was not required to notify anyone.

Payne also said that the FCC sets the guidelines and “they are scientifically constructed towers” with the implication that any damage to humans from the towers would be impossible.

Everyone got in line and waited patiently to present their questions to the Mayor. Mayor Bohr repeated many times that “T Mobile had a contract and there was nothing that could be done about it.” Through most of the “town hall” session it really seemed as if the Mayor didn’t realize how angry most of those present were until the last five minutes. Councilman Carchio, however, clearly understood the feeling of the crowd and before Bohr and Carchio left they assured the crowd they would cast ballots next week against the project and encourage the other council members to do the same.

T Mobile has agreed to stop the project until after Monday’s Council Meeting which begins at five p.m. Monday (in a closed session) and it will be open to the public at 6 p.m.

Prior to publishing this post What’s Up contacted the city to see if there was a press release on the meeting and if anyone wanted to comment. We were told there was not a PR and we were referred to one of the local print papers for information.

It promises to be a lively one next Monday.