City moves cell tower

Huntington Beach City Council members decided Monday to move a planned cell-phone tower from next to Harbour View Elementary School to elsewhere in the city.

The city’s contract with T-Mobile USA Inc. to build the tower near the school will be terminated as officials look for another spot. But it could cost the taxpayers up to $50,000 to terminate the contract as officials negotiate a reimbursement of costs to T-Mobile.

Council members also voted to change the city’s zoning to ensure residents are notified if cell towers are to be built within 500 feet of a school. Neighbors complained late last week when it became apparent the city had approved a cell-phone tower next to the school, prompting Mayor Keith Bohr to call an emergency council meeting to consider the issue.

Nearly 200 attended Monday’s council meeting. All applauded the City Council’s decision.

“I am pleased that they listened to our concerns and that they looked at the information we provided them,” said Harbour View neighbor Debi Windle. “The research they were using regarding cancer caused by radio waves was outdated. There still isn’t any long-term research done in the field.”

Others also reminded the council of the need to hold open hearings in the future to discuss similar issues.

“All seven of you may not have the information that hundreds of us have,” 30-year resident Tay Norton said.

“We want everything to be a public hearing,” Bohr said. “Out of many such motions, this is the first one which was denied. It simply fell through the cracks.”

City officials held a meeting Thursday at Harbour View Elementary where parents and community members angrily denounced the tower and the city’s failure to notify them about it. They were worried the tower might cause cancer in children.

“There is always room for improvement and learning. Although I don’t wish for angry residents, I personally love the community’s input,” Councilwoman Jill Hardy said.