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SPRINT PCS Cellular Communications tower near homes in Mandarin
area of Jacksonville, Florida
5-6 June 1998 - Construction commences (electric pole eventually
replaced is to the left)
Base of Cellular Tower (note proximity to our residence fence and
lot line)
The view from my driveway at 11825 Catrakee Drive
Let me introduce myself. My name is Jim Carr and I reside at 11825
Catrakee Drive in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, Fl. I am a career
Naval Officer and veteran of Desert Storm. I am a resident of Florida and
a property owner and taxpayer in Jacksonville. On 5-6 June personnel working
for SPRINT Personal Communications Systems (SPRINT PCS) commenced erection
of a mono pole cellular communications tower in close proximity to my home
and the homes of my neighbors. This large tower was built alongside an
existing Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA)electric pole. SPRINT PCS
leased the JEA right of way to construct this tower. Work on this structure
continued and culminated at approximately 1:30am Friday morning June 19
when several of us were awakened by SPRINT construction crews who were
attaching the electric lines to the lower part of the Cellular tower as
JEA removed the smaller regular sized electric pole.
The City of Jacksonville enacted an Ordinance in 1996 which intent
was to prevent cellular communications towers from being built with 250
feet of residential zoned property (homes). This SPRINT PCS tower is well
inside 250 feet of my lot and even closer to my neighbors back yard (about
35 feet away). We voiced concern over the presence of this tower and the
City of Jacksonville Attorney has issued an opinion that this tower serves
as a "replacement" pole for the electrical pole which existed and therefore
isn't covered by the provisions of the 1996 Ordinance.
I do not expect SPRINT PCS to be sympathetic to our situation with this cellular tower -
in fact, my discussions with SPRINT employees have confirmed this. I do expect
our elected officials to be more responsive. In this regard Councilman Dick Kravitz and his staff have been very
responsive. Unfortunately, the decision to place this cellular tower in our "backyards" was made by
city officials who are not elected and do not appear to be concerned about the rights of property owners
and tax payers in Jacksonville. This web site is dedicated to the removal and
relocation of this cellular tower and to inform the citizens of Jacksonville
that under the City's interpretation of the 1996 Ordinance a cellular tower
could be placed just about anywhere............... 
Coming
soon to a location near you???????More Photos of Our Subdivision
What Sprint PCS Won't Tell You
About Long Term Exposure To PCS Tower Emissions
Representatives from SPRINT PCS use the language "we want to be good neighbors" in every conversation
and public relations interview. DO good neighbors....
Work practically around the clock during an entire weekend to construct a 100 foot communications
tower next to your home AND NEVER TELL YOU THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT BEFOREHAND???
Work in the middle of the night next to your property, creating noise so loud it
awakens you AND NEVER TELL YOU THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT BEFOREHAND???
State categorically that "THE TOWER ISN'T COMING DOWN" ???
Then, in a newspaper interview state that they are SURPRISED BY THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE TOWER???
These are our good neighbors???........
UPDATE 14 JULY - Several residents of the affected area in Mandarin and other concerned
citizens spoke before the Jacksonville City Council tonight. Council President
Don Davis and Councilman Jim Tullis expressed deep concern over how the construction
of this tower was allowed in view of the provisions of the 1996 ordinance.
At request of Councilman Dick Kravitz (Mandarin) Councilman Davis agreed to speak to the Jacksonville
City Attorney in an effort to get this decision reviewed. Councilman Tullis pressed city attorneys for
an explanation during the council meeting. The explanation given by a city attorney was
the tower was legal since the 100 foot pole was built and thus became a replacement pole for JEA,
then the cellular tower equipment was placed atop the pole (and below on ground level).
COMMENT- This reasoning by the city is flawed for the following reasons:
1. The 100' mono pole cellular tower was designed for SPRINT PCS specifically as a
cellular communications tower.
2. The tower was built for SPRINT PCS.
3. The tower was paid for by SPRINT PCS.
4. The 80' pre existing JEA electrical pole was not in need of replacement and
would there today if not for the presence of the SPRINT PCS tower.
We call upon the City of Jacksonville to admit a mistake was made
by permitting officials and city attorney and take immediate action
to remove this illegal cellular communications tower.
Council Pres. Don Davis Key Excerpt
Councilman Dick Kravitz Key Excerpt
Councilman Jim Tullis Key Excerpt
Councilman Eric Smith Key Excerpt
Councilman Dick Brown Key Excerpt
To read a verbatim of comments made by all guests and members of the City Council on the tower controversy at the 14 July Council meeting
CLICK HERE FOR TRANSCRIPT
For information on SPRINT PCS and exactly how this Cellular Tower was placed 35 feet from
a residence, in clear violation of the city ordinance, express purpose of which tower is for cellular
communications (not as a replacement electrical pole as the City of Jacksonville
has stated) click on SPRINT Celltower Chronology and Background:
SPRINT Celltower Chronology
and Background
Links
St Petersburg Times Article on Hillsborough County, Florida Struggle Against Mis Sited Cellular Towers
Wireless Telephone Towers
Excellent site with comprehensive and up to date links to other cellular tower sites, including link to the Federal Court decision in Sprint Spectrum v. Town of Ontario Planning Board
Florida Times Union 8 Jul- "Neighbors Upset With Antenna - Sprint Erects Taller Telephone Tower"
Florida Times Union 22 Jul- "City Attempts to further Regulate Cell Towers"
St. Lucie County Rejects Cellular Communications Tower Varience Request
Excerpt from City Ordinance 320 - Building Officials' Power to
Revoke A Permit Previously Approved In Error
Jacksonville
Ord 96-305-296
Cellular Towers, EMR and Health Effects
Wireless Communications Facilities Issues Paper
Excellent abstract prepared by the San Diego Association of Governments which examines technical, health and safety issues that local governments and wireless communications industry currently face.
Cellular Tower Coalition (CTC)
WJXT-TV 4 Editorial
COMMENT: We thank WJXT for their editorial; however, it is our position that
there is no loophole in the present City Ordinance governing cellular phone towers in residential areas.
The City of Jacksonville's attorney has issued an opinion, repeat, opinion, that this tower is legal since the
mono pole it rests on is a "replacement pole" for JEA electrical lines. Since this mono pole
is 20 feet higher than any other electrical pole in the area and was in fact built by SPRINT PCS
specifically for cellular communications equipment, that any opinion that this is a "replacement pole"
is ridiculous. If not for SPRINT PCS, the mono pole would not have been erected and the 80 foot high pre existing
JEA electrical pole would still be there. The SPRINT PCS 100 foot cellular tower, in our opinion , is in fact
illegal under the existing city ordinance. We call upon the City of Jacksonville to review this case and enforce
the existing city ordinance.
jdcarr54@hotmail.com
You may Voice Your Concerns To:
jdelaney@coj.netMayor Delaney
maryanns@coj.netCouncilwoman Mary Ann Southwell
dwilin01@sprintspectrum.com SPRINT PCS
news@wjxt.comWJXT-TV Channel 4
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This Site Updated 11 February 2001
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