LAKEPORT >> After more than 6 months of debate, the Lakeport City Council will consider legislation to finally overturn the planning commission’s decision on the Verizon Wireless cell tower.
The company was given 90 days to find an alternative location to its original proposal at 1875 High St., but according to city Community Development Director Kevin Ingram, it failed to find another suitable location to address its coverage issues in North Lakeport.
Lakeport’s council meets on Tuesday.
This was Verizon’s second opportunity to find another location, with the first continuance given in early July. During that time, Ingram said, the county has provided it with possible sites, most notably the Lake County courthouse and the DA’s office right behind it. However, the cell provider said the locations wouldn’t work.
“They can get it on the building, but it doesn’t full address the issue of providing additional coverage,” Ingram said. “We’re back to where we were on September 1st.”
According to Verizon’s report given to the council, the location is too far south to broadcast a signal that would “provide in-building coverage in northern areas.”
Currently, its only solution is to disguise the tower as a large pine tree or a tall water tower. Led by Nancy Ruzicka, who owns a business property close to the proposed site, those offers were strongly opposed by Lakeport’s citizens.
Citizens cited health concerns, appearance issues, and decreased property values if the tower is put in place. Others were left wondering why the council gave the continuance instead of passing the appeal.
If the council does overturn the planning commission’s decision, Verizon can sue the city within 30 days under the 1996 Telecommunications act. Ingram said the lawsuit is still a possibility.
“They didn’t say it directly,” he said. “But they certainly alluded to it at the last meeting.”
Verizon Wireless also looked at 18 other sites in its report. The report can be found on Lakeport’s website.
Representative Jenny Blocker could not be reached in time for this story.
