Council Votes Down Bill to Restrict Cell Towers at Schools
The vote keeps alive a proposal to build a cell tower a Piney Orchard Elementary.
The county council said it's OK to have a cell tower like this one on school properties (Credit: Patch file)
The Anne Arundel County Council on Monday rejected a measure that would have placed tougher restrictions on the installation of cell towers at schools.
With two votes of support and five against, the council essentially gave a nod to the current law that allows cell towers to be built on school property with some setback requirements.
The vote is likely good news for companies that have proposals to install towers at schools, including one at Piney Orchard Elementary School.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools has a master lease agreement with Milestone Communications outlining the financial arrangement if a cell tower is constructed on school property.
Milestone had proposed building at Piney Orchard Elementary, but many parents and other residents opposed the plan, citing concerns over safety, property values and aesthetics.
Milestone pulled back from its original plan at Piney Orchard Elementary and has not yet submitted a new formal proposal.
The county council originally considered a measure that would have banned cell towers at schools altogether. After some debate, the council decided instead to take up a measure that would have allowed the towers, but required them to be further away from school buildings. School officials said the new restrictions could have amounted to a de facto ban.
http://odenton.patch.com/groups/schools/p/council-votes-down-bill-to-restrict-cell-towers-at-schools
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