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110 Will theQ proposed facility on the photograph.Then one Beyond its primary broadcasting duties, the tower construction of a can see the surrounding area and evaluate whom serves as a platform for an extensive array of base station reduce the facility might affect.Experience has shown antennas, including dish antennas and the whip nearby property values? these exhibits to be helpful because they illustrate antennas often used by cellular base stations. everything in relationship to the proposed site. On adjoining g parcels,construction of custom A frequent result of visual impact studies is that houses ranging in price from$700,000 to over No conclusive realize that the base station facility does evidence has people $1,000,01 was underway.The presence of a large not appear obtrusive,as they may have feared. antenna rower did not prevent high-value develop- been presented to date Often,people who are unfamiliar with cellular ment of immediately adjacent land. In summary, demonstrating that base stations do not know that they regularly see there is currently no credible evidence that wire- base stations signifi- such facilities without even really noticing them. less transmission base stations affect the value of cantly affect property A good visual impact study may show that a facility, nearby properties. values. while visible, is comparable to a telephone pole,a water tower,a large flag pole, lighting poles at a E. STATEMENTS OF PARTICIPANTS high-school playing field,or other common stnrc- 1. Prior Experience with Siting Base Stations cures on the contemporary landscape. on Public School Property D. BASE STATIONS AND PROPERTY One Symposium participant noted his involve- VALUES ment in a Sacramento case where a cellular system For some neighbors of a proposed transmission sought to place a base station on elementary school site,the primary concern is the possibility that the grounds.One person voiced mild opposition on potential bioeffects grounds,but the proposal was facility will reduce property values. far less controversial than a simultaneous contro- 4110 1. No Evidence of Property Devaluation from versy over location of a bus stop.Applause followed Base Stations the school board's unanimous approval of the base To date,no conclusive evidence demonstrates that station.The school was financially strapped and was very glad to receive rent from the carrier.The cellular base stations depress property values.In fact,there are studies that have shown no negative following night,the participant also attended a property value impact from base stations.Broader meeting about placing a base station on a fire anecdotal evidence from real estate specialists also station tower Local residents strongly opposed the suggests no evidence of a decline in property values proposal.City commissioners approved the base • station.There is also station largely,in the participant's view,because due to the presence of a base positive evidence that the presence of even the they worked in was dangerous at night. substantial,visually obvious antenna towers does Half the commissioners were women who appre- QShould a base not affect the desirability of the immediate area for crated having reliable cellular phone service. station be located residential use. 2. Zoning Regulations and Base Stations near a school or other A zoning specialist participating in the Federal Oneg potentially sensitive Focus Symposiumparticipant asked if zoning boards were trying area? noted that he had discussed the to establish more restrictive provisions for cellular question of base stations and property values with base stations.A panelist voiced awareness of such municipal tax assessors.Those assessors responded attempts,citing Cherry Hill,New Jersey as an that they had never lowered the tax assessment on example.Cherry Hill used to have many zones in AThere is no reason to a Proper due to a nearby base station.The zoning which one could site a tower.When a carrier cried exclude schools and specialist also said that,in his extensive experience, to locate a base station where city officials he had never heard a credible real estate witness thought was inappropriate,they changed the similar areas as poten- testify that a base station had depressed property zoning al base station sites. ordinance to mandate athree-w-one fall ti Base stations have values. zone,requiring the distance to any boundary line been successfully 2. Expensive Homes Near Transmission Towers Co be three times the tower's full height. rated on school In one affluent New Jersey area that a Symposium The panelist also stated an awareness that some roperties with the participant had studied,a 400-foot New Jerseymunicipalities have enacted ordinances creating support of the school Public Broadcasting Network tower stands_ specific areas where towers were appropriate. and the community. Apparently,the towns hope to manage the scope 34