Verizon Wireless has applied for a special use permit for a commercial mobile radio services cell tower near the intersection of Peyton Highway and Safe Landing Drive.The parcel is owned by Long Horn Acres Land and Cattle LLC.El Paso County’s development services department notified adjoining landowners of the submittal in September.”We’re at the very beginning of [the application] process,” said Karen Parsons, a planner for the development services department.Parsons said she is gathering comments from neighbors and development services staff and expects Verizon Wireless to respond to those comments with a second submittal that will also be reviewed and commented on by neighbors and staff.”If they have addressed those comments, and we feel supportive, we can schedule (the application) for a planning commission hearing,” Parsons said.It’s doubtful the planning commission will hear the application before December, which means the application won’t be heard by the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners until January or February, she said.The application included drawings that showed the proposed tower would be 100 feet tall.Parsons said the tower will also have a microwave dish antennae and will provide co-location service for at least two other carriers.”Even though they are competition, they still have to do it, so we don’t have a lot of towers in the same area,” she said.Bob Joly, who owns property next to the parcel, said he’s concerned the tower will reduce property values and affect the health of everyone within a 4.6 mile radius around the proposed tower.Some researchers have found that people exposed to cell phone and microwave radiation have higher rates of cancer, he said.All of Peyton’s school buildings are within 4.6 miles of the proposed tower, he said.Joly is collecting signatures for a petition against the tower. He can be reached at 749-0031.
