Your help is needed to oppose the Conditional Use Permit for the

80’ cell tower at Huntington Middle and Valentine Elementary Schools.

PLEASE DO NOT MENTION NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM Radio Frequency Radiation (RF) IN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT LETTER: When you write letters regarding the Verizon Conditional Use Permit (CUP) please do not mention negative health effects from RF.  

NOTE THE TROUBLING FACTS

Verizon is currently in the process of retroactively applying for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP 13-12) with the City of San Marino on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Crowell Public Library in the Barth Community Room.  Please attend.

LACKS 2 GOVERNMENT APPROVALS:  Verizon built the 80-foot tall cell tower at HMS and Valentine Elementary without any building permits, inspections, tests or building plans on record with the City of San Marino or the Division of State Architects.  DSA Certification is required for all K-12 schools.  Both government permits should have been obtained before the cell tower was built in 2006.

MISREPRESENTATION OF THE FACTS:  The online DSA Tracker stated that Verizon’s project scope was “Construction of LIGHT POLE” at “Huntington Park Middle School”. https://www.apps.dgs.ca.gov/Tracker/ApplicationSummary.aspx?OriginId=03&AppId=108636

VERIZON’S LEASE CONTRACT AND LACK OF COMPLIANCE:  Verizon signed a lease contract with SMUSD, saying they would obtain all Federal, State or Local permits and certificates as well as soil boring tests, but chose to do nothing.

STEALTH BUILD:  The tower was unlawfully and surreptitiously built during the winter break in 2006.

NO PUBLIC INPUT OR PARTICIPATION:  By not applying for a CUP, Verizon avoided notifying the residents of homes within 300 feet of the SMUSD property line.  They blocked public participation and input into the cell tower CUP hearing.

CELL SITE PROLIFERATION:  The 80’ cell tower has set a precedent in height and location in an R-1 zone.  State and Federal Telecom laws mandate equal access for all Telecoms.  Soon the faux mono pine will no longer resemble a tree when more equipment and satellite dishes are added.

VISUAL BLIGHT AND DECREASED PROPERTY VALUE:  Initially the cell tower monopole was a faux mono-palm with only one antenna array.  In less than a year it became a faux mono-pine that could accommodate 4 antenna arrays.  This change required a Modification of Conditional Use Permit and again violated the City building code.  Who knows what other unattractive changes are legally allowed at this cell site?

TROUBLING SAFETY ISSUES

VERITICAL REAL ESTATE AT SMUSD:  Verizon has sub-leased space on this tower to additional telecoms in the past.  Any additional antennae, satellite dishes and equipment loaded onto tall cell towers, can pose serious safety risks due to: fire, metal fatigue from excessive load, stress from Century winds and falling faux branches.

PROXIMITY TO EARTHQUAKE ZONE:  Verizon built the tower within ¼ mile of the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Zone.  http://seismic.apps.cironline.org/school/san-marino/huntington-middle/

FALL ZONE NOT SAFE FOR OUR KIDS –NOT LEAST INTRUSIVE SITE:  The tower’s fall zone has student classrooms, walkways, and a playground in its path.  With 2 large combined school campuses to choose a cell site location, why did Verizon have to squeeze in the cell tower so close to classrooms and children?

NO WAY TO FIGHT A FIRE:  Electrical fires on cell towers are not uncommon.  Tower fires cannot be extinguished with water or foam and are left to burn out on their own.

CALL TO ACTION:

This is the critical moment to demand the removal of the cell tower so please write to the City to OPPOSE VERIZON’S CUP #1312.  It is also very important that we have a large group attend this meeting.  Because of this tower, our school district and community cannot afford to continue losing students and to decrease the overall value of our homes and schools and the quality of life in our city.  Please forward this email to other parents and friends so that large numbers can show up in force at the CUP hearing.

You can email your public comment letter to the following officials: 

1) Dave Saldana, Planning and Building Director:  DSaldana@SanMarinoCA.gov 

2) CC John Schaefer, City Manager:  JSchaefer@CityofSanMarino.org 

3) CC the Mayor and the City Council.  Please email the City Clerk, Veronica Ruiz, asking her to forward your letter to the Mayor and City Council:  VRuiz@CityofSanMarino.org 

4) CC Superintendent Loren Kleinrock:   superintendent@smusd.us

5) CC SMUSD Board of Education:  Please ask Debra Kallas to forward your letter to the entire SMUSD Board of Education:  dkallas@smusd.us    
6)  CC removecelltowers@gmail.com so that we have a record of all the emails being sent to the City regarding the Verizon Cell Tower.           

OR mail your letters to the City of San Marino: 

City of San Marino Planning and Building Department 

2200 Huntington Drive, 1st Floor 

San Marino, CA  91108 

(626) 300-0784 – Planning

Sincerely,

Concerned Parents of SMUSD
http://www.removecelltowers.blogspot.com/

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