Why Should I Worry About The Cell Tower? I Can’t See It From My House…
Even if you aren’t concerned about the amount of money spent by lobbyists during the time the Federal Communications Act was written and passed (more on that subject in a coming blog). Even if you believe that the government is on top of the safety issues related to radiation (anyone remember Thalidomide? Cigarettes? Lead based paint? Vioxx?, this list could go on and on), there is an unresolved issue related to the water tower / cell tower that will affect many people in Brandon Farms and in the wider Hopewell region.
The Impact on Real Estate
Let me pose a question that I asked the Hopewell Township Committee Members that were present, along with several hundred residents, at the township meeting on November 13, 2007. Let’s assume you were in the market for a new house. You look at two houses that are identical in every way – go to the same schools, have the same size property, the same layout and amenities, both are listed for the same price and pay the same tax rate, etc. However, one house is within 200 feet of a cell tower antenna array. Does anyone purchase the house near the antenna? At a minimum, even if you aren’t concerned about potential health issues with the radiation, don’t you try to at least deal for a lower price than the house without the antenna?
There are many people in our township that don’t realize that this is their issue, possibly because they can’t see the tower from their house. As best as I can figure, the water tower is visible from the “belly” up to most of the Mershon Chase and Four Seasons sections of the neighborhood. In addition the water tower is visible to sizeable portions of the Smiths Crossing and Twin Pines sections of the neighborhood. It is also highly visible from Lawrenceville-Pennington Road and the entrances to Mershon Chase, Four Seasons and Smiths Crossing. Doing a quick mental count and putting a conservative estimate together, I’d say that more than 300 households in these parts of the Brandon Farms neighborhood have a direct view of the top of the tower. That makes 300 households that are affected to one degree or another by an unsightly water tower wrapped in the various styles, sizes and types of antennas used by the cellular corporations.
Others Will Join the Cell Tower Party…
Make no mistake about it, if T-Mobile is allowed to install antennas on the water tower, other companies will too, regardless of whether or not the ordinances are changed to make it more difficult. I can see the arguments now – we know from the original meetings that there is at least one other provider interested in the site. Will that additional provider give up when they find out that the ordinance has been changed, but T-Mobile was allowed to install on the tower? Of course not! They can argue that they are being targeted and not allowed to compete fairly.
The Federal Communications Act limits the power output of any given cell antenna site to between roughly 1000 and 2000 Watts, depending on the type of communications. Given what we know about T-Mobile’s application, if we assume that other companies are similar in type of transmitter and power output, we can expect an additional 3 to 6 carriers might install equipment on the water tower.
I am not a real estate agent. It seems like common sense that the houses within site of a 120 foot water tower bristling with antennas will sell for lower prices than comparable houses in similar areas without that type of structure.
One of the ways to determine the value of a property is through the Sales Comparison Approach. This method of real estate appraisal compares a house’s characteristics with those of similar properties that have recently sold. The Sales Comparison Approach helps appraisers to adjust the price of a property based on the presence, absence or degree of characteristics which influence value.
Comps Affect the Price of Your Home
Most of us have heard or maybe even used the shortened name for this appraisal method, “Comps”. A savvy home buyer (and I think we can assume that anyone who can afford a house and the taxes in Hopewell is a savvy buyer) will go through the bid and negotiation process with data on “comps” that increase their chances to buy at a lower price.
So maybe you know someone who isn’t concerned about T-Mobile installing antennas on the water tower. They don’t think it will affect them in any way, they can’t see the tower from where they live. Maybe they live in Brandon Farms. Maybe they live somewhere else in Hopewell.
The Big Picture
Maybe they haven‘t thought about the fact that more than 300 homes, approximately 25% of the residences in Brandon Farms have a direct view of the tower. Will 25% of the homes in Brandon Farms have an effect on area “comps”? I think so. Actually, I think that it could have an effect on a much wider area of Hopewell than just Brandon Farms. I know that I would use the data to try to negotiate a lower price on any house in this neighborhood. Would you?
Lisa
January 4th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Lisa-great points!!! Maybe we need to look into health advocates to start lobbying Congress for stricter safety standards regard cell antennaes. Do we really need to wait for our Eurpoean friends to take the lead on this?
Like so many times in the past, so long as it doesn’t “immediately” impact someone, their backs are turned and the approach of “it’s not my problem” is taken. What a huge mistake residents of Brandon Farms, and even the POA are making!!! Thank you to our governing Board for virtually locking us out of any negotiations with T-Mobile with the poor excuse for a “community meeting” that was held. It would have been better to do nothing than have that meeting. T-Mobile thought it was a closed Board meeting….but yet…the Community thought it was a “private, community-wide meeting for public comment/discussion”… - what gives? But what’s done is done and I digress…
If you are reading this, I ask you, can you, as a homeowner in this community, sit at your dinner table and ignore the fact that T-Mobile is marching forward? Don’t you guys get it? A 2 year Township -wide tax assessment hit my home with a near $4000 tax increase in 1 year. What about your home? With the depressed housing market, we’ve already seen appraisals fall by $60,000 to $100,000 LESS in our own community!!! All you need to do is read the real estate section of any paper to see for yourself. The T-Mobile Cell Antennae will bring resale prices down even further. If resale prices go down, “comps” go down and we all end up losing. Even if you directly don’t believe there are any negative health effects, you can’t negotiate with the “perception” of fear that the antennae brings. Let’s not give up. Let’s push for a stricter ordinance. Let’s continue to “urge” T-Mobile to relocate. Let’s fight this together.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I can’t put into words the level of frustration that I have had with this whole ordeal. But I must admit that I’ve learned alot from it.
Over the holidays, as I was driving to my parents house about 45 minutes east of Hopewell, I started paying attention to all the water towers along the way. To my surprise, water tower after water tower was wrapped with cell antennas. It was shocking. However, there was one (out of a total of 5) that hadn’t been “violated” yet. I came to the conclusion that there were two possible reasons why that water tower had not been equipped with cell antennas. One, the Patrick Lambs of the world have not located it yet and its only a matter of time before they do. Or, and the likelier of the two conclusions, is that it wasn’t a coincidence that that was the only cell tower of the five that was in a residential area. All the others were in open space or in an industrial area. So it gives me hope that that township has the proper leadership that was willing to stand up to these behemoth telecommication companies for the benefit of their residents. Unfortunately, it also frustrates me when I think about why our “leaders” can’t, or should I say, won’t do the same thing for us. To the elected officials of our township (Mayor Sandom, Paul Pagorelski, David Sandahl, John Murphy, Mark Iorio, etc.) I implore you to stand up for us and do all that you can do to keep that cell tower out of our neighborhood and any other residential neighborhood under your jurisdiction. And to the representatives of T-Mobile (Sue Nokes and Patrick Lamb), I appeal to you to handle this situation in a socially responsibe manner and work with us to find a different, non-residential, area for your antenna.
Finally, to the Tax Assessor’s Office, I hope you are prepared to come out and reassess all of our properties (LOWER) if these antennas are placed on our water tower.
January 4th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Great Job with the latest Blog Lisa (Mike!) We CAN’T GIVE UP THE FIGHT, NOT NOW!!!! I urge everyone to continue writing to our Township Committee Members, especially our 2 new members. We don’t want them to think we have given up this fight!!! Also , get your friends, neighbors, family to attend the next Township Meeting on: Monday, January 14th at 7pm!!! There is strength in NUMBERS, Let’s show them we are in their faces until we get the ordinance changed!!!
January 9th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
It is amazing to me all of the information learned since this “war” on T-Mobile started. Each day, hour, more details are told by our tireless team. I am dumbfounded by the lack of outrage and concern from the Brandon Farms Community and POA. Re-read Marta’s Jan 4th blog for a much needed wake up call and help this team fight. Mark January 14th 7:00 Municipal Bldg. on your calendar. This is a Township meeting that you should not miss. These meetings are very enlightening. Come and see how our township and our elected officials work.
January 10th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
The people I speak with at the elementary school, PTO, library, grocery store, and so on, think this is over - that surely the Township Committee has been able to successfully negotiate with T-Mobile for a new site. It’s NOT over - a new site has not been agreed upon by T-Mobile. A small revision to the ordinance, the one that got us into this mess in the first place, is all that they’ve accomplished. And even that really does very little - just prevents wrapping around the tower sides. So back to the Hopewell Township Committee on Jan 14 th .
January 15th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I greatly applaud your efforts to stop these cell tower companies from coming into our townships and bullying Township Committees and residents into accepting cell towers being placed where they do not belong.
We are currently fighting a large battle in Cranford against Verizon and 4 other carriers who are seeking to place a 130′ cell tower in a single family residential zoned area, directly adjacent to the very scenic and historic district of Lenape Park (i.e. the Rahway River Parkway Historic District). Lenape Park is also designated as Green Acres, as is Nomahegan Park, which is directly across the street from the proposed cell tower site.
Please take a moment to visit our website http://www.residentsact.blogspot.com We would greatly appreciate it. As you know, fighting these cell tower companies is no easy task and any and all help is so greatly appreciated! We also have an online petition, www.petitiononline.com/notocs
Thank you again! I wish you continued success in your fight!
Jennifer
January 16th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Jennifer,
It always helps to know that we are not alone in this fight. I will definitely visit your website and get more informed! I encourage everyone to do so!
Thanks for your post!
Lisa
January 18th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Hello everyone… Thank you Lisa Hayden for all that you have done so far in leading us in this fight.. Thank you also Marta for all your work… and Thanks to all of my neighbors and friends who have gotten involved and voiced their opinions…… EVERY property owner in Brandon Farms,Twin Pines, and Smith Crossing…. make your opinion heard… T-Mobile… know that your company is at serious risk for losing forever those you want as customers if you continue with your plans of turning the water tower into a cell tower…..Hopewell Township Committee members…please work with T-mobile to make the alternate site a reality…..remember to be far sighted, see ahead, not just what is immediate…..
January 19th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I just read an article on MSNBC.com titled “Report Urges Study of Cell Phone Health Effects” Could wireless devices harm children or pregnant womena, U.S. experts ask. The article suggests researches should study more children and pregnant women in trying to figure out if cell phones or other wireless devices could damage health, the US National Research councel advised on Thursday. Most studies have looked only at short-term effects on healthy adults. More studies needs to be done on multiple, long-term, low intesity radio frequency (RF) exposure. “Measuring the amount of RF energy recived by juveniles, children, pregnant women from wireless devices and RF base station antennas.
It goes on to say basically more studies need to be done on children because of developing organ and tissue systems.
If this is not a good arguement to keep fighting, I don’t know what it is. You may not live near to tower, but your children go to the school. Do you want your children to be the guinea pigs. I know I don’t. I urge the Township Committee to read the article in full. I would love an answer from T-Mobile as well.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:47 am
Well said Mina…
Clearly more studies need to be conducted regarding the harmful effects of RF radiation. I wish everyone would realize this FACT and not get hung up on the words of some who are ignorant in stating that there are no harmful effects. Just because they have impressive initials after their names does not mean they are even close to being correct, nor does it give me any peace of mind.
I have impressive initials after my name too…P.W.M (person, wife and mother) I can state with absolute certainty that more long term studies need to be conducted! None of us should be guinea pigs!
Help fight and STOP T-Mobile and any other cell companies from polluting our community with their (possibly) harmful cell tower.
Email our Township Committee and T-Mobile with your outrage and concerns.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
As member of this community for 12 years, my question is why were the people of Hopewell Township able to battle the expansion of Mercer County Airport and not this. I can’t imagine that the concerns are not widespread.
This does not only affect those that live here, they affect the community as a whole. Hopewell Township residents moved here for a reason, not only a nice environment but also good schools.
With the placement of antennas so close to an Elementary School, why would parents consider even purchasing a house in this neighborhood at all. There children spend 6 hours a day 5 days a week, 10 months every year for 6 years at this school
You don’t have to live next to the tower for this to affect your family. Our property value may lower because fewer people willing to buy in this area, then fewer students will attend the local elementary school in this neighborhood and then schools get redistricted and then students from other neighborhoods will be attending that Elementary School.
People need to think into the future and realize that this eventually will affect everyone, not just those that live around the water tower.
Township Committe, please think about what you are doing, this is not a short term problem with a short term solution. There are long range consequences, not just health related….
July 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
T-Mobile recently attempted to persuade our community to allow them to build a cell tower on a central hill in the neighborhood. This area would be behind nearly half of the 203 residences in the development, and too close, in our opinion, to the playground that our neighborhood also maintains. When myself and my neighbors began to do research on the affects of cell towers in residential communities, this site and your article came up in everyone’s search. We created a website for our community as well(http://diabloviewresidents.googlepages.com/) to make our own research easier for our community to access, and we dedicated a page of links to your site and your story. I just wanted to tell you that the website you and your neighbors put together helped us to argue our case with our Board of Directors, and through persistance of the homeowners in conjunction with our homeowners association, we were able to dismiss T-Mobile’s request for assessment. Thank you for sharing your struggle with the world. I hope you know you and your neighbors have helped our community and our thoughts are with you!
Christine
January 22nd, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Please no more talking. Let me know the way to destroy the antenna on my roof. For good.