Allie Shah • 651-298-1550
By Allie Shah ashah@startribune.com When Tom Mechelke steps outside the front door of his Lake Elmo home, he sees a serene lake and only sky. That would change for him and many others living along Lake Jane, should city officials approve a request to build a 125-foot cell-phone tower on the lake's south side. The Lake Elmo City Council has until Feb. 10 to decide on T-Mobile's application to construct a tower on private property. T-Mobile officials say they need to build a cell-phone tower somewhere in that part of the city to provide better service for their Lake Elmo customers. Some residents object because they fear the tall tower will mar their view of the lake, and ruin the atmosphere in nearby Sunfish Lake Park. Despite their objections, some city staff members say the council may have no choice but to approve the tower because federal regulations prohibit cities from rejecting cell-phone towers without adequate cause. Other metro area communities have faced similar struggles over where to place communications towers. In Champlin, the city council rejected a proposal two years ago by T-Mobile to build a 100-foot cell-phone tower in a city park. Last year, Afton city officials passed an ordinance that allowed construction of an 88-foot public safety tower. The tower was made to look like a pine tree. It's part of Washington County's new radio system designed to enhance communication among law enforcement officials. Earlier this week in Lake Elmo, the City Council met in a workshop to discuss working with T-Mobile to build the tower at another location. The alternative site, dubbed the Fire Station No. 2 site, is located about 125 feet south of the original site. City Council members who favor the alternative site say that the tower would appear smaller to people living along Lake Jane, because it would be farther away. They also point out that the money from T-Mobile would go to the city, since the city owns that land. "I want to support the best option for the greatest number of people," council member Anne Smith said. Others on the council disagreed. "I personally do not support relocating the tower specifically for purposes of reallocating a relatively small amount of money to the city," said Mayor Dean Johnston. "I think we'd be hard-pressed to find a reason that would pass a lab test in court that this is going to be a significant detriment to the neighborhood." Decision not an easy one Dan and Jean Olinger own the land at 9057 Lake Jane Trail N., where T-Mobile wants to place the tower. Jean Olinger, who has lived in Lake Elmo since the 1970s, says the decision to accept T-Mobile's offer was a difficult one for her family. "We struggled with the decision to go ahead with the tower, and I did talk to neighbors," she said. "I do understand and respect the fact that people oppose the tower for different reasons." The Fire Station No. 2 site is located on part of a 110-acre parcel of land once owned by Washington County that used to be a landfill. As a result, any new construction on the site would require approval from the Minnesota Pollution Control Authority and Washington County, city staff said. A narrow strip of land that extends about 125 feet south of the Olinger property would be the most feasible for a new tower, according to city officials. At Tuesday's City Council work session, T-Mobile representatives pressed the council to decide on the current application, but indicated that the fire station site may still work for the cell tower. T-Mobile officials also said 110 feet is the lowest height they could go if they built the tower on the Olinger property. At the fire station site, the lowest possible height for the tower would be 125 to 135 feet. The City Council will hold its regular meeting Tuesday. Allie Shah • 651-298-1550
