New Land Use Plan Amendments will be heard in September. View the calendar for meeting dates regarding all Rezone, Major Modification and Special Land Use cases and applications.
Download the calendar here…Rezone Calendar
Briarcliff Heights Community Action Group
AGAINST a T-Mobile 150' (15 story) cell tower at Margaret Harris Comprehensive School
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Proposal in the works for cell tower zoning code
New Cell Tower Zoning Code Proposed for County: The county is reviewing a proposal to update its zoning code. This has been in the works for years, but part of it directly impacts the placement of cell towers. The cell industry has written its own update and this has been accepted for review in the new code. Obviously this does not help our cause. Currently, we have rights to prevent a cell towers at certain locations based on county zoning codes. This code dis-allows the tower proposed by T-mobile and gives us the right to publicly oppose any variances. The new code would greatly hinder our residential provisions! Our Commissioners are the ones that have the power to adopt these code changes. They have supported us but need to hear from you that they need to pay attention to these changes. Please write our Commissioners. Things to say….
- Ask them to throw out these proposed changes from the telecommunications industry.
- Tell them that the new code proposes that “monopoles located on public property shall be permitted” (i.e. school)
- Tell them that industry should not be allowed to dictate the law.
- Tell them that this will take away our right to public hearings for cell tower placement.
- Tell them that this gives cell companies the right to appeal if denied and leaves not provision for citizen appeal.
- Tell them this change would not require the cell company to seek alternate locations.
For more information, the new cell phone tower ordinance is at pp. 41-50 at the following link:
http://planningdekalb.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Article4_Master.pdf
The proposed ordinance is mostly a copy of the Model Wireless Telecommunications Facility Siting Ordinance, which is a product of the Wireless Infrastructure Association, a/k/a the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA). Click below to view the Model Ordinance at:
http://www.pcia.com/images/Advocacy_Docs/PCIA_Model_Zoning_Ordinance_June_2012.pdf
Don’t Let This Be Our View!
This red arrow shows where a 150′ cell tower will be placed on Knob Hill Drive. Yes, that’s a school zone sign on the same road!
Don’t suffer devaluation of our entire neighborhood by this visual nuisance!
Give a donation to defend our neighborhood today!
Residents Speak Again At County Commission
See our neighbors speak at the DeKalb County Commission Hearing on February 28, 2012.
Our Residents Speak to County Commissioners
See your neighbors take our message to the County Commissioners on February 14, 2012!
Huge Cell Towers are Non-Residential Visual Nuisances!
So why does T-Mobile want to put one in our neighborhood, when alternate sites are available at several commercially zoned properties nearby, including an approved T-Mobile application for an identical tower at Clairmont and Briarcliff?
Make no mistake, huge 150 foot cell towers are a visual nuisance and detract from the continuity of our this sunset and every neighborhood they are placed in. This one sticks out like a sore thumb against another beautiful Atlanta sunset. See a full video here: 150′ cell towers are HUGE and cannot hide or blend.
Cell Tower "Tree" located off 400 Toll Road near Lenox Road
T-Mobile Alternate Site at Clairmont and Briarcliff?
Why our neighborhood? There is another commercially zoned site available and approved for a 155′ T-Mobile tower that more than covers this neighborhood, right at the corner of Briarcliff and Clairmont. Search for tower locations on your own at: http://www.antennasearch.com
Just how tall is a 150 foot tower?
Lady Liberty at her full 151 feet from base to top of torch.
T-Mobile wants to put a tower in our residential neighborhood that is as tall as the Statue of Liberty in our backyards. Read the rest of this entry »
Understand the True Scale of 150′ tower.
Check out these photos to see how T-Mobile represents their proposed tower versus in life scale what 150 feet tall really looks like. The car in the picture is a full-size, quad-cab Tundra pickup truck — that stands 6’10″ off the ground.
This is what you will really get, dressed up as a "tree." Taken in Toco Hills.
A truthful representation? This is how T-Mobile would like you to picture the giant redwood tree/tower proposed for Margaret Harris.
More Photos …
NBC 11 Alive: Parents Protest Cell Towers in Schools
CBS Atlanta: Parents Protest Cell Towers
School Board Continues to Claim “Notice”
Dr. Cheryl Atkinson, Dekalb Co School Board Superintendent
Dr. Atkinson thoughtfully sent each of us who spoke at last Monday’s School Board meeting a letter outlining her assertions that the School Board provided notice to the community of Briarcliff Heights. I will cut to the text that appears in most the letters:
“After much discussion and receipt of public input, the Board of Education voted to approve the placement of T-Mobile cell towers on properties owned by the DeKalb County School District. Over a period of time between 2010 and 2011, three presentations regarding cell towers were made during Budget, Finance, and Facilities Committee meetings. These meetings were announced and open to the public. Prior to the vote in July, public information sessions were advertised and held at each site slated to receive a cell tower. Citizens provided comments and information regarding cell towers during televised Board meetings in June and July. The AJC and other local newspapers provided press coverage regarding the issue. Finally, before the final vote was taken on July 11, 2011 during the monthly Board meeting, the Board of Education held an extensive discussion regarding placement of cell towers on school properties.”
In rebuttal:
Contract Signed by Superintedent Despite Community Objections
We just learned today that the Margaret Harris contract was signed by the School Board on December 1, 2011 and countersigned by T-Mobile on December 8, 2011.
By Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Atkinson and Board of Education Chairman Thomas E. Bowen.
Cell Tower Lease_Margaret Harris Center
Detailed plans for the site: Exhibit B Margaret Harris
Yard Signs are UP!
If you would like a yard sign placed in your yard, please contact us with your name and address. We’ll bring one right over!
briarcliff.heights@gmail.com
SECOND Open Records Request
Requested an electronic copy of any and all signed contract(s) between the Dekalb County School System/Dekalb County Board of Education and T-Mobile, specifically with regard to the Margaret Harris Comprehensive School.