Another Attempt to Be Heard

I appreciate the recent letters regarding the city's planned cell phone tower addition to town. I was given 3 minutes at the city council meeting (October 14th) to voice my concerns regarding these plans. This seven story tower will be just 300' from the nearest residents on Redhawk Drive. I am beyond sad I was only given such a small amount of time to express my concerns. If you happened to hear me speak, I am aware I was talking a hundred miles a minute to attempt to finish. Despite talking so quickly I had to leave a few points out merely due to time constraints. Here is my talk:

My name is Krista Nelson. I am speaking today regarding the 7 story cell tower that is planned to be constructed less than 280 feet from my home. Since my first visit to Zion in 1980, I have visited, stayed with friends, camped, and rented VRBOs/hotel rooms for over 30 days/year for the majority of my life. I have supported literally every business, town function, and event in Springdale for almost 50 years. I had made life long friends in Springdale long before I even moved here. This place is in my blood. After years of wishing, dreaming and planning, I finally moved here in 2023. When I was buying my home here it was NEVER mentioned by anyone that a cell phone tower could be erected literally in my back yard. Somehow this major plan went from just approving 9 POTENTIAL sites in the WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS MASTER PLAN, to a signed lease agreement just last month without formal written notice ever to the residents most closely impacted. As I have poured every last cent from the sale of my previous home into my current home I couldn't be more invested here than I am now. The decision to buy a home here does not come easy. Wages in Utah are lower than other states. Interest rates are high. I work over 50 hours a week to afford to live here. That is how important this place is to me.

I had many concerns the second I found out this information second hand. As someone who has worn a radiation docimeter for years for my career, I immediately was concerned about the fact that cell towers emit RF waves to communicate with mobile devices. As a neighborhood, several of us expressed these concerns. The city's response to us September 28th was to dismiss these concerns because there have been no long term studies performed. In fact, they quoted that "the 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act expressly bars local governments from regulating wireless communication infrastructure based on concerns about RF radiation health risks". I'm so relieved to know that in order to bring us more up to date cell coverage, the city is citing a 30 year old report to soothe our concerns.

My second concern is my home losing value. I put everything I have into this home. I have everything to lose if this tower is put in my back yard. I easily found an article that surveyed 1000 people looking for new homes. The majority of home buyers stated they would not even consider purchasing a home near a cell tower. Their reasons: damage to view scape, fear of possible health ramifications, and worry home would devalue even further. This study shows that homes directly next to cell phone towers will drop 20 to 30% in value. The city can quote all the studies (or lack of long term health studies) they desire. This does not change public perception of a cell phone tower vs property value.

Multiple times in the city's general plan it states that the city council wants "to protect the iconic scenic views and vistas of Zion Canyon". Another report from the city states wanting to improve telecommunication "with as little impact as possible on the community's characteristics". Does this standard not apply to all of us?

Put caring that those standards should apply to everyone who lives here aside. Has the city even thought of the ramifications on the flora and fauna of yet another structure in this specific area? There are already multiple utility structures in this area. Both of which bring traffic to a very active, open wildlife area. There are not many of these open areas left in town. I contacted the DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES immediately with concern over how yet another project/building/structure will effect the plants and animals in this area. I was a personal witness to what effects the construction of the SCC internet building had on the same area behind Redhawk. I have video of what trucks, cranes, and cement trucks did to this area. Animals squished, plants and open area decimated, and no signs of active monitoring until we said something. Per a personal response from Jess Kinross, Impact Analysis Biologist with DWR, a link was sent to show which specific animals/plants live in the cell tower location. That report showed that multiple not only endangered animals live in this area (such as the California Condors, Desert Tortoise, yellow billed Cuckoo, monarch butterfly, Shivwitt's milk vetch plant, and several cacti, BUT also the critically endangered Mexican Spotted Owl). Rattlesnakes are also protected under Utah state law and I personally have seen them directly on my property several times just last month. Many of my immediate neighbors have photos and videos of many of these endangered animals exactly where the tower is to be placed. My son and I have both seen groups of 2-4 California Condors flying directly over this same tower area.

I want to be clear that I am not a NIMBY (not in my back yard) person! I take the stance of NIABY (not in anyone's back yard). A 7 story cell tower does NOT belong in any residential neighborhood in Springdale. As someone who has visited Springdale for decades, I can also attest I have always had cell coverage wherever I've paid to stay. I am not a hypocrite. I have never once asked anyone from the city to fix my cell phone coverage at my home. I use Wi-Fi for calling most of the time. And if the one or two times the power is out and I still need to make a phone call, I can walk or drive a block down to the main road and make a call near any of the hotels.

I am also disappointed that the community feedback from the survey regarding cell coverage was not regarded when the city agreed to let Atlas move forward with a land lease/7 story tower. The majority of community feedback showed residents wanted shorter towers, that were camouflaged, and put in/on already existing locations. This tower is the exact opposite. The tallest of all sites proposed. It will potentially hold equipment for up to 5 cell companies (plus potentially small control buildings for each), and how can anything that tall possibly be 'hidden'/camouflaged to not affect our 'famous View scapes'.

I would ask if any single person on the council, or staff, found out the same size cell tower was being placed less than 300' from their own homes, would they feel any differently? Would they challenge that decision? Would they want one of the other 8 proposed locations to be considered? Would 'our' issues now be their same issues?

The people in this town are some of my patients, my friends, and my neighbors. We all matter! The city should care that this tower would negatively impact any one of us. They should care that the animals, plants and birds that make living here so special will be effected and potentially harmed with more construction. If any one of the city council members or city staff appealed to me to stand up for the same rights they say they want for all of us, I would stand up for every one of them. I have protested lesser issues. I ask that you put yourself in your neighbor's shoes. Please look outside your own home right now and ask yourself if having a 7 story cell tower in your back yard for the non-guaranteed possibility of better cell coverage would matter to you? Thank you.