An alarming trend is taking place now that the least bothersome cell tower building sites have been utilized. More and more residential neighborhoods and other places where people don't want towers are being targeted. Currently Newtown, Danbury, Woodbury, Warren and Sherman citizens are all dealing with this situation.
The ultimate authority for approval of cell tower construction sites has been taken away from local municipalities and placed in the hands of the Connecticut Siting Council, a state-appointed agency. The criteria used by the council in making its rulings are seemingly written by the cell phone lobby. The council may not consider such things as health issues, the destruction of wildlife habitat, wetlands, scenic vistas or property values.
Furthermore, it is simply nonsense to suggest property values are not affected by having one of these eyesores close by. People regularly commute from New York City to northern Fairfield and Litchfield counties for the rural and scenic beauty. When they buy homes in this area, they are trying to escape urban blight, not bring it with them.
AT&T and the other cell companies are in the business of providing cell phone service. These companies have a single interest: maximize shareholder value by increasing profits. As a result, they simply want to build their towers as quickly and cheaply as possible. Without proper oversight, these companies will run roughshod over our communities and our scenic environment.
It is up to us to ensure that our representatives in Hartford take a long hard look at the free reign the cell companies have had over the past several years. When we lose wildlife habitats, wetlands and scenic vistas to these towers, they are gone forever and our lives are smaller.
Dreux Spengler
SHERMAN
