Today’s Los Angeles Times feature on cell sites sprouting in coastal areas describes the zoning and permitting issues well, but minimizes health concerns of residents.
Residents who object to proliferating sites are concerned that proximity to cell towers will lead to increased rates of cancer and other ailments. Some concerns with small cell sites:
1) so many new sites are being installed to meet data service demands, but each provider is only responsible for its own radio frequency emissions. Keeping track of cumulative exposure becomes a challenge;
2) unlike broadcast towers, cell sites are close to residences, schools, and populated areas; and
3) we don’t know what the long-term effects of constant, close-range, low-level exposure to non-ionizing radiation will be.
Glendale residents raised all these points in their year-long effort to keep cell sites out of residential areas. Glendale’s new wireless ordinance adheres to federal rules, while making it difficult for providers to “invade” residential areas.
Burbank is now following Glendale’s lead, as a group of residents fights for a protective ordinance in that city (more in next post).
Very interesting blog – just stumbled upon it while looking for synopsis of planning commissioners’ meetings. What is going on regarding “smart” meters in your area? We are currently going through a replacement program and residents are concerned about the potential health effects.
-Leigh