By Jeff Clemetson | Editor

Residents rally to oppose cell and light towers at San Carlos park

A proposed project by T-Mobile that would put cellular towers atop new 70-foot-tall lights in the field at the San Carlos Recreation Center, brought an unusually large turnout of residents to the Navajo Community Planners, Inc. meeting on Dec. 9.

“I’ve been involved with this group in one format or another for about 20 years and this is the best organized presentation in any community and I want to commend you,” said NCPI Vice Chair Jay Wilson to the community members who spoke at the meeting “… You should congratulate yourself, you made a very strong presentation.”

Nearly 60 people showed up to make presentations in opposition to the light-based cell towers, many of whom had never been to a NCPI meeting and had only recently learned of the city’s plan to build the lights.

As previously reported by the Mission Times Courier [Volume 21, Issue 11 or bit.ly/1OsyLUL], NCPI put off a vote on the project in October, because San Diego Parks and Recreation did not send a representative to answer questions from the board. On Dec. 9, again there was no representative, but the board decided to not postpone their vote.

Board member Terry Cords said he had a conversation with Kelly Wood, Steve Poltz and Kathy Ruiz of Parks and Rec and they told him that the parks department doesn’t make public appearances. He also reported that the hours of the park (until 9 p.m.) would remain the same if the lights are installed; the lights were not intended for sports, but rather security; the lights had to be 70 feet tall; and that the project was a cost-saving effort by the city to get lights into a park that needs them.

T-Mobile representative Jerrod Ploof made his second presentation about the project, which duplicated his first at the October NCPI meeting. He explained why the site was chosen; how the cell towers would be installed on the lights; where they would be located in the park; and that the lights were intended to light up soccer fields.

Public comments lasted over an hour, even after the large group in opposition of the cell tower project condensed their speakers to save time and avoid duplicate statements.

Resident Andy Schwartz called the lights a “Trojan horse” for the cell towers.

Like many of the speakers, Bob Walker read from the community plan for the Navajo area that discourages projects that are “distracting and unattractive.” He also brought up the money that T-Mobile was giving to the city and Parks and Recreation –– $19,000 each.

“The city wants to sell us out. Parks and Rec wants to sell us out. The residents do not want them,” he said, bringing out a petition that was signed by 329 residents from his neighborhood.

Many more speakers echoed these sentiments, stating that the cell towers would be a “blight,” the lights were a “ruse,” and that the project goes against the community plan. Barbara Carter quoted a passage from the plan that said “no structure shall exceed 50 feet in height.”

After comments, the board voted unanimously (13-0) to not recommend the project to the City Planning Department.

Cords said because of his involvement with Crusader Soccer he is in favor of eventually getting more lighted fields in the area but he was concerned that Parks and Rec had told him the lights were for security whereas T-Mobile says they are for sports.

Mike McSweeney said the whole project “doesn’t pass the laugh test.”

Dan Smith urged community members to continue their opposition at City Planning Commission meetings when the project is taken up and voted on there.

Marilyn Reed asked Ploof what T-Mobile will do if the project is ultimately rejected. Ploof said T-Mobile would look for another site or spend its money to improve coverage elsewhere.

NCPI Chairman Mathew Adams said he also supports getting more lights at sports fields and parks because “when kids are involved in sports, they stay out of trouble.” He opposed the project, however, on the grounds that the city did “a poor job” in communicating to residents about the project.

Although the NCPI board is sending a no recommendation forward, the ultimate approval will come from the City Planning Commission. If it fails there, T-Mobile can request a vote for approval from the San Diego City Council.

––Write to Jeff Clemetson at [email protected]