Fountain Valley planners to vote on cell tower

The Fountain Valley Planning Commission is scheduled to vote tonight on a controversial proposal for a cell tower at a neighborhood church.

The commission will vote on an application for a conditional use permit, submitted by the communications giant T-Mobile, that would allow for a free-standing wireless communication device on the grounds of Fountain Valley United Methodist Church at 18225 Bushard St. Pastor Dan Nehrbass said the tower would take the form of a flagpole, since the church had a flagpole already and that seemed the least intrusive method of installation.

T-Mobile, he said, had approached the church wanting to install the tower, and the church complied because it needed the money for a number of services, including disaster relief, homeless programs and child sponsorship.

“The idea is that money can be used to redeem people,” Nehrbass said. “So the idea is to use money for something positive. We saw this as a way to take some of T-Mobile’s money and use it for a kingdom purpose.”

Some in the community, however, are opposed to the cell tower. Resident Loni Platt, who said she plans to attend tonight’s Planning Commission meeting with at least two dozen other people, said the tower could create a health hazard for the neighborhood and damage property values.

“Pretty much as a group, I don’t know anyone who is for this tower,” Platt said. “We’re all opposed to it.”

The Planning Commission voted in favor of the cell tower June 10, but had to hear the matter again because the public notice given before the last meeting came out too few days in advance. In addition to voting on the conditional use permit, the commission will also recommend a zone change for the property. The church is currently zoned as an agricultural property, and the commission is looking to reclassify it as public and institutional, according to Planning Director Andy Perea.

If the commission recommends the zone change, the matter would move on to the City Council, which would have to approve the zone change before the cell tower could be installed, Perea said.

He noted that there are “several” cell towers already in place throughout Fountain Valley, and that while some have garnered controversy from neighbors, others have not.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 10200 Slater Ave.

City Editor MICHAEL MILLER can be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com .