Residents upset, wanted ‘no’ vote from City Council

Much to the dismay of several vocal audience members, the Peachtree City Council decided Thursday to further explore the possibility of allowing cell towers to be built at city-owned parks and recreation sites.

Council also committed to holding a well-advertised public hearing on the matter at a later date once city staff have gotten more information from a number of other cellular providers.

The city has been approached by T-mobile about building up to four towers at various locations in the city to address so-called “dead spots” in coverage. Up until now, the city has been able to keep cell towers limited mostly to areas along major thoroughfares, but this proposal would put them in residential neighborhoods, noted acting Community Development Director David Rast.

The discussion became heated after Mayor Harold Logsdon indicated he didn’t want to take any public comment on the proposal. Kathie Cheney, a resident who was allowed to speak initially, complained about the potential location of a tower in Blue Smoke Park, a neighborhood park with tennis courts and a playground.

Logsdon then lodged a volley at Cheney.

“Do you know where the cellphone tower is going to be? I don’t know.”

Cheney remarked that the park is so small it doesn’t have much room for such a tower, and she noted that the park is often used as a landing zone for medical helicopters during an emergency.

Briefly later, Logsdon sarcastically invited the audience to speak on the matter, saying he would be willing to stay at City Hall all night to do so.

That prompted a volley from a female resident in the audience who apparently was fed up with Logsdon’s attitude toward the public.

“I don’t think you need to be that rude,” the woman said. “... You’re not listening if you’re coming off talking to the citizens that way.”

Logsdon ultimately apologized not once or twice but three times before the council meeting was over.

“I apologize to everyone out there. Please accept my apology. You’re right, I was out of line,” Logsdon said.

Then near the end of the discussion, Logsdon made another comment that riled several residents. He noted that T-mobile has offered the city up to $30,000 a year for the privilege of erecting the towers on city property, and given the city’s fiscal status that’s a consideration, Logsdon said.

That prompted cries for several audience members, one of whom suggested the city’s parks “shouldn’t be for sale.”

When a resident suggested the city look at allowing cell towers in the industrial park, Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett commented that they aren’t allowed because they would be in the runway safety zone for Falcon Field airport.

Plunkett said she would prefer the city use alternative tower sites not in neighborhoods or park areas. She suggested there may be areas on the edge of the industrial park that might be effective.

Rockspray Homeowners Association vice president Jamie Lee said he felt many residents didn’t want the matter tabled “to the backburner” only to be decided at a later date when the matter might not be well-advertised.

“I hear your assurances about having a public forum and I appreciate that and I applaud that,” Lee said. “The thing is we don’t want to see T-mobile come up and say we spent $100,000 studying this and you can’t turn us away because we spent too much money on it.”

Logsdon replied that the city would make sure the future meetings are announced to residents via the city’s email communication system.

Resident Juan Matute said he would like to have good cellphone coverage but he doesn’t want the city to approve an ugly cell tower.