Posted: 4:14 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Clusters of cell towers raise concern for Lafayette residents

LAFAYETTE, Calif. —

Lafayette is known to many as valley of dropped calls. 

KTVU

Complaints from residents and businesses led to a forest of new cell towers such as one on a distributed antenna system that's been growing bigger and bigger in front of Janene Goodman's home. 

 

"This wasn't there when we bought the house," Goodman said. "It's a concern not only visually but also for a health perspective." 

Children have reportedly been hurt hitting their heads on equipment jutting over the sidewalk. At another unit a mile away, parents also worry about radio frequency microwaves. There's a school across the street. 

"I'm not a scientist. I don't know radio frequency levels. I don't know what's OK, what's not OK," said resident Viva LaFrance 

KTVU reporter John Fowler stood about a 100 feet from one of these cellphone towers and about another 100 from another one. He was directly in front of the Happy Valley School with a radio frequency detector. It showed microwave radiation as high as the maximum levels allowed by the federal government. 

"What the long-term effects are? We don't know what they are, but why not err on the conservative," said Lafayette resident Angela Lucas. 

At least six cell antenna locations trouble people in one Lafayette neighborhood. 

Michael Cass oversees cell tower issues for the city of Lafayette. Federal law forbids restrictions based on safety but allows them only for aesthetic reasons. 

"Cell phone service does benefit the community as a whole but it shouldn't be done to the detriment of the surrounding property owners," said Cass. 

Lafayette just imposed a moratorium on new cell towers. Richmond and El Cerrito have had moratorium for more than a year. Albany forbids any antenna replacement, and six other Bay Area cities have strict hearing requirements. 

A wireless industry spokesman told KTVU, cities are circumventing federal law, bowing to health fears. 

Lafayette City Councilman Don Tatzin had this to say to wireless executives: "How many of them have these in front of their house and would they want it," said Tatzin. 

AT&T told said it will work with the city to improve cell tower installations. Wireless companies insist microwaves are not harmful. And that people have to choose to have faster, better wireless or antenna-free neighborhoods. 

But they can't have both. 

http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/cluster-cell-towers-raises-concern-lafayette-resid/nHYx6/