City of Montgomery Responds To AT&T Cell Phone Tower Lawsuit In Deer Creek, Neighbors Unhappy
There’s a war of words between residents in one east Montgomery neighborhood and one of the nation’s largest cell phone companies. Neighbors say the phone company’s plan to put up cell phone tower near the neighborhood entrance is a bad call. Richard Rosen’s view from his house in Deer Creek consists of fall leaves and an open sky — for now. That view could be taken over by a 180-foot AT&T cell phone tower. “There has to be an uninhabited area that’s not adjacent to private homes that you can use and effectively work the tower,” Said Richard Rosen who’s house faces the lot the tower would be built on. About two months ago, the city of Montgomery’s board of adjustments denied putting the cell phone tower behind Glen Rose, a subdivision inside Deer Creek. That resulted in a lawsuit by AT&T, but the city responded saying the denial was appropriate. “[I want to find out] why they have to be in that location. Are there other areas around there? We own some parks, we own some fire station locations, there’s some other property on the other side that perhaps may be available,” Said Montgomery Mayor, Todd Strange. But it’s not just the scenic view neighbors are worried about. People like Vinay Sharma also have health concerns. “You’re putting a tower which is going to have a huge amount of rays! And look at Deer Creek — Deer Creek has almost 1600 houses. So the whole point is why Deer Creek? Why in our back yard?” Said Sharma. Alabama News Network contacted AT&T. When we asked why they chose to put the tower near the entrance, they told us, a media spokesperson told us: “I’m afraid that this is part of an issue that is currently in litigation, and we will be unable to discuss specifics of the matter at this time.” Now, the city is waiting to see what’s next for this neighborhood. “What I’m trying to do is just see if we cant get this compromised because I know if you’ve put it in the legal ram of the courts, you may not like the action that comes out,” Said Mayor Strange. City leaders tell us the compromise AT&T is offering the city is to make the tower 160-feet tall instead of 180-feet. Part of the compromise is to also camouflage the tower to make it look like a tree. Strange tells us he met with AT&T on the site where the tower would be built Monday afternoon. At 5:30, Deer Creek residents attended the neighborhood’s home owners association meeting, where Strange and other city council leaders attended to discuss residents’ concerns. Alabama News Network was banned from attending the meeting by management, but will continue to get information from you as it develops.
