Introduction to the Conflict
Prasad Choppa was not expecting to win the fight against a 200-foot communications tower next to his neighborhood when he walked into Dallas City Hall on Wednesday. Dozens of his neighbors from the South Haven community watched the Dallas City Council approve utility company Oncor’s request to construct the tower near their homes in Irving. Across the road, the tower would be situated in Dallas.
The Approval and Its Reasons
The approval boiled down to Oncor’s promise of creating buffer zones to shield the residents’ backyards from the tower and making its services reliable, a federal law restricting cities’ powers on communication towers, and the fact the protesters weren’t Dallas residents. “The way the discussion went. The way (council members) asked Oncor questions — it was predetermined,” Choppa said.
Political Points and News
Get the latest politics news from North Texas and beyond. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Concerns of the Residents
South Haven residents asked Dallas officials to set minimum distance requirements and proposed the tower be 600 feet away. They thought it would be possible for the company to look somewhere else in an 80-acre area. They worried that a tower that close by could fall on transmission lines, impact the children’s park, and also harm property values.
Safety and Proximity Concerns
However, Oncor officials said the location near South Haven was the safest site as it provided 200-foot buffer zones on all sides. Last month, the Federal Aviation Authority approved Oncor’s request to build the tower in the area, approval needed because of the site’s proximity to DFW International Airport.
Council Members’ Views
Council member Maxie Johnson was the sole person to vote against the measure. “I cannot support it because it’s close to the parks and the neighborhood where kids play,” he said, echoing his plan commissioner, Tom Forsyth. Forsyth said he came to the council meeting Wednesday not as a plan commissioner, but as a private resident. In support of the South Haven neighborhood, Forsyth said the council could amend the development plan to “provide reasonable separation for the cell tower from the neighbors, their homes and their children’s park, which is adjacent to the Oncor facility.”
Legal Considerations
Other council members, with emotions ranging from compassion to resignation, said a 1996 telecommunications law could put Dallas in a sticky situation legally, and that the transmission lines were one of many urban realities that came from living on city limits. “The reality is that we could make you feel good by saying that those reasons are enough for us to do something that is, quite frankly, illegal,” council member Adam Bazaldua said, adding that litigation, girded by federal law that supersedes local regulation, would still lead to a communication tower.
Alternative Locations
Oncor officials said they had three options. Two of them, according to the maps given to the City Council, were close to Cypress Waters and new single-family homes that will be built by Billingsley Company, a real estate firm founded by Lucy and Henry Billingsley, who are also related to real estate giant Hunt Realty.
Support from Local Businesses
Bill Walker, the senior vice president of development for the Billingsley Company, said the location makes sense on several levels. “We support this tower from a very simple, pragmatic view. We need the power in the area to maintain the area,” he said, adding that Cypress Waters paid millions of dollars in taxes to Dallas. “I hate to bring it up, but it’s just the reality. Having this power is important, and we do.”
Federal Law and Local Regulation
Council members and plan commissioners have pointed to a federal law that prevents local government from impeding the construction of wireless infrastructure. The law, created “to promote competition and reduce regulation” to grow technologies, also asserts cities and counties can’t take into consideration the potential health effects of construction. Local governments can regulate the distance between towering structures and residential areas by setting requirements.
Conclusion
The construction of the 200-foot communications tower near the South Haven community has been a point of contention, with residents expressing concerns over safety, property values, and the impact on local parks. Despite these concerns, the Dallas City Council approved the construction, citing federal law and the need for reliable services. The decision highlights the challenges faced by local communities in balancing the need for infrastructure development with concerns over health, safety, and quality of life.
FAQs
Q: What is the main reason for the Dallas City Council’s approval of the communications tower?
A: The main reason for the approval is Oncor’s promise of creating buffer zones and making its services reliable, along with the restriction imposed by a federal law on cities’ powers regarding communication towers.
Q: How far away from residential areas can local governments require communication towers to be?
A: Local governments can regulate the distance between towering structures and residential areas by setting requirements, but they cannot impede the construction of wireless infrastructure based on potential health effects.
Q: Why did the Federal Aviation Authority approve Oncor’s request to build the tower?
A: The approval was necessary because of the site’s proximity to DFW International Airport.
Q: What are the concerns of the South Haven residents regarding the tower?
A: The residents are concerned about the tower’s potential impact on transmission lines, children’s parks, and property values.
Q: What did Bill Walker of the Billingsley Company say about the location of the tower?
A: He said the location makes sense from a pragmatic view, as they need the power in the area to maintain it, and Cypress Waters pays millions of dollars in taxes to Dallas.
