Port St. Lucie residents fear cell phone towers

PORT ST. LUCIE - Port St. Lucie neighbors are terrified over plans for a cell phone tower to be placed right in front of their homes. They are concerned about cancer, among other problems.

Ronald Colangelo has lived on Darwin Circle for 10 years. He and other residents are used to the small 911 tower at local fire station 10, but that could get bigger. Neighbor, Ed Leary, says, "I'm opposed to it. Who wants to look out their door and see a big ugly tower?" Neighbors are nervous because the St. Lucie County Fire District was approached by T-Mobile to expand the small tower to a bigger cell phone tower, feet from homes. One neighbor says, "It can destroy the neighborhood." Many neighbors cite studies linking cell phone towers to cancer, and decreased property values. Colangelo says, "Prices of houses have gone down 50% and with this tower I'm sure it's going to go down more." The first district doesn't see it that way. This year they did not raise taxes, and instead looked for other ways to off-set costs. This is one way: T-Mobile willing to pay $1600 a month in rent for the land. Fire District Spokesman, Buddy Emerson, says, "It's really a trade off. Off-set tax revenue is a way so residents don't feel the burden." Emerson understands neighbors concerns, but says the FCC says cell phone towers near homes are fine. The district wants to work with residents, but still have plans to move forward. Neighbor, Frank Mazur, says, "They can find other ways to get revenue. Do they have to put us at risk?"

The city council will discuss this issue at their next meeting next Monday. Several residents plan to go and bring a petition. The St. Lucie County Fire District is hoping the city waives the required 5 acres, needed to build this tower. If they do, it could pave the way for the tower and others.