Panther Ridge homeowners wake up to view of 200 ft cell tower (homeowners association, houses)

[Sunshine Rules]

There was an interesting story on the front cover of this past week's Observer, a small local newspaper. According to the article, 74 of the 78 lots in Panther Ridge now have a view of a 200 foot tall cell tower. A cell tower that they had no clue was being built before work started in August. That right, no one notified the neighbors who's homes back up to the new tower or even the homeowners association of what was going up next door.

Apparently the county did not have to notify the homeowners about the tower because, although it is very close to residential properties, the cell tower was installed on agriculturally zoned land of 40 or more acres in size. And since it met that criteria, notification was not required.

This might be a heads up to other neighborhoods east of I-75 that back up to agriculturally zoned land as it was stated in the article that the area has a need for more such cell towers to provide service to the growing area.

[macrodome2]

It's very hard to stop a cell tower from going up. I'm on our local Board of Adjustment in NJ and we've heard an application for a cell tower. There have been several cases in the federal courts and the courts ruled in favor of the cell tower owners. Since the precedent has been set on a federal level (they are considered a benefit to the public), about the only thing local towns can do is try to influence height, placement, and camouflage (they use fake pine trees up north, or stick them in church steeples).

It would have been nice however if the prospective homeowners had been warned before they purchased their houses. I'm a little surprised the builder didn't have to disclose it. Maybe you don't have to notify adjacent property owners in Fl, but in NJ any property within 200 ft of the property where the tower is going to be located must be notified. So I wonder if the builder knew it was going up if the property was adjacent. If so, I would have thought it would have to have been disclosed- unless only individual property owners need to provide a sellers disclosure. Unless it wasn't close enough for notification.

[beninfl]

Everyone wants service, nobody wants the towers. Sigh. Humanity.

[theBondTraders]

If that notified the owners of the property adjacent to Panther Ridge, they couldn't do anything about it anyway ! it's not like the tower builder was sneaking around, and the HOA couldn't do crap. There are worse things to be erected that a cell tower, such as a row of regional high voltage transmission lines, or an unsightly water tower like Big Blue on 75, or a Sheriff's Department Heli Pad ( and listen to take-offs and landings all night). Panther Ridge is sort of "out there" anyway. Who cares?

[bbronston]

I think everyone would care if it was in their backyard and they are really being honest about it. The people in River Club and Summerfield in LWR were successful in blocking the construction of towers in their communities.

[theBondTraders]

So ? LWR isn't Panther Ridge, not the same zoning/density, etc

[bbronston]

Originally Posted by theBondTraders

So ? LWR isn't Panther Ridge, not the same zoning/density, etc

I'm just saying that the people who grant the permits for these things need to balance the need for their construction with the proximity to existing homes. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. It's one thing to build a tower and to then develop a community right next to it. It is another to plop one down next to an existing community, particularly when there are other locations available. These towers are business enterprises and the purpose of zoning is to help everyone coexist in a sensible way. I don't know the details but, with all the land out there, I have a hard time not believing that the location of this tower was more about profit than it was about having concern for the existing homeowners and that, IMHO, was wrong.

[macrodome2]

Originally Posted by bbronston

I think everyone would care if it was in their backyard and they are really being honest about it. The people in River Club and Summerfield in LWR were successful in blocking the construction of towers in their communities.

Interesting. Do you know how they did that? Just curious.

I should have added that the cell tower company has to prove a gap in coverage and a need for the tower. Perhaps they couldn't prove that in LWR. There probably was a gap if Panther Ridge is out in the boonies.

[bbronston]

At the time, the coverage in LWR was a bit spotty but there. I don't recall the details but IIRC the hearings that usually precede the permit were stacked by upset and concerned homeowners. I'm sure you'll find it if you Google River Club and cell tower.

[macrodome2]

Originally Posted by bbronston

At the time, the coverage in LWR was a bit spotty but there. I don't recall the details but IIRC the hearings that usually precede the permit were stacked by upset and concerned homeowners. I'm sure you'll find it if you Google River Club and cell tower.

I took your suggestion and Googled it. The crux of the reason, “As previously cited, the Eleventh Circuit has held that aesthetic objections coupled with evidence of an adverse impact on property values or safety concerns can constitute substantial evidence,” Kovachevich wrote. “The court finds that the aesthetic objections to the cell tower, coupled with evidence of the negative impact of the proposed cell tower on property values, constitute a substantial evidence within the written record to support the (board of county commissioners’) denial of Plaintiff’s application.” I applaud the judge. We have not been as successful.