Peters Twp. Trying To Address Cell Phone Woes

Anyone that drives through and lives in Peters Township can attest to having cell phone calls dropped, even if you are making cell phone calls in a home. Cell phone service, or lack of service has been an issue for many years. Peters Township is looking to address that problem. At their council meeting, Peters Township Council was introduced to a cell phone tower overlay zoning district that would allow cell phone tower expansion. Currently towers are only allowed in the industrial districts. Township Manager Paul Lauer said overlay districts under consideration are township owned properties and school district properties. He said that the township and school district could control impacts of towers better through terms and conditions contained in leases. The overlay districts suggested largely line up with suggestions from the three major cell phone providers made several years ago. Those areas are Peterswood Park, Rolling Hills Park, Venetia Park, Arrowhead Trail at its intersection with Brush Run Road, Peters Township Middle School and High School along with Pleasant Valley School and Bower Hill School. Resident Bob Donnan spoke to council registering his argument against the districts calling cell towers a health hazard, particularly to children. He pointed to a German study conducted on cell tower effects on trees in Germany. Lauer said that a draft ordinance could be ready in about 30 days. Council would approve that draft and then hold a public hearing before any action would occur.