Stop The Cell Tower in New Territory!
VICTORY!!!
NTRCA Board Rejects Cell Tower Proposal! Vote: 3 - 2, with 1 abstaining.
The monthly Board meeting started out with a change of venue to the gymnasium at The Club in anticipation of a large turnout. A large turnout is indeed what happened with what is estimated to be somewhere between 300 and 400 people in attendance. News cameras were setup by NBC Channel 2, and CBS Channel 11 to record the event, however the Board had constables remove the reporters from the room. After some opening remarks from Board Memebers there was a T-Mobile presentation followed by comments from residents. The vast majority of residents who spoke were passionately objecting to the cell tower and asked the Board to reject the proposal. After many comments, Board Member Robert Chirch made a motion to reject the T-Mobile proposal and was seconded by President Marcel Theriot. A vote was then held with Marcel Theriot, Robert Chirch and Charles Swihart voting in favor of rejecting the proposal. Rene Banzinger and Cindy Picazo voted agaist rejecting the proposal. Michael Pincomb abstained and Sharon Cole was absent. Upon announcing the result the crowd errupted into applause and smiles and hugs were everwhere. We saw the power of residents getting involved and the neighbors of New Territory left that night a tighter knit community. We applaud the Board for doing the right thing in listening to the residents....well done!
NTRCA Board Rejects Cell Tower Proposal! Vote: 3 - 2, with 1 abstaining.
The monthly Board meeting started out with a change of venue to the gymnasium at The Club in anticipation of a large turnout. A large turnout is indeed what happened with what is estimated to be somewhere between 300 and 400 people in attendance. News cameras were setup by NBC Channel 2, and CBS Channel 11 to record the event, however the Board had constables remove the reporters from the room. After some opening remarks from Board Memebers there was a T-Mobile presentation followed by comments from residents. The vast majority of residents who spoke were passionately objecting to the cell tower and asked the Board to reject the proposal. After many comments, Board Member Robert Chirch made a motion to reject the T-Mobile proposal and was seconded by President Marcel Theriot. A vote was then held with Marcel Theriot, Robert Chirch and Charles Swihart voting in favor of rejecting the proposal. Rene Banzinger and Cindy Picazo voted agaist rejecting the proposal. Michael Pincomb abstained and Sharon Cole was absent. Upon announcing the result the crowd errupted into applause and smiles and hugs were everwhere. We saw the power of residents getting involved and the neighbors of New Territory left that night a tighter knit community. We applaud the Board for doing the right thing in listening to the residents....well done!
Residents Organize to Remove the 2 Directors who voted for the cell tower.
Following the meeting several conversation were overheard among residents amazed that two Board members ignored the wishes of the community and voted in favor of T-Mobile. Signatures were gathered from several neighborhoods and the Board was flooded with emails in the last few weeks, showing greater than 90% of all residents responding were opposed to the tower. Hundreds of residents showed up at the meeing and dozens of them made empassioned speaches to reject the tower. Rene Banzinger and Cindy Picazo sat at the front of the room, listened to it all and dismissed it! They were elected by us residents to represent us and they have failed miserably in that duty. It is clear that they are not interested in what the residents want for the community, they are only interested in themselves and what they want. A movement has started to find a way to remove these Board members from the positions they do not deserve to hold. There is talk of impeachment and removal from office as soon as possible. Others are suggesting at the next election to strongly reject them. Either way the sentiment was nearly unanimous, Rene Banizinger and Cindy Picazo are a disgrace to the democratic process and do not represent the residents. Shame on you both.
You may not be aware of the fact that the New Territory Residential Community Association has been in talks with T-Mobile to build a 120 foot tall cell phone tower in New Territory. The location of the cell tower will be in the maintenance yard on Homeward Way between Blakely Bend subdivision and Robinson's Landing and Telfair. The NTRCA appears to have tried to sneak this project through without notifying it residents or obtaining their consent. Help us fight this proposal and send the Board of Directors a strong message at their next meeting on March 15th at 7pm in the Club..... STOP THE CELL TOWER IN NEW TERRITORY!
We are asking for all concerned residents to sign a petition stating their objection to the cell tower. We will be coming door to door over the next week to get these signatures so the Board of Directors become aware of the opposition to this project. We also encourage all residents to attend the next board meeting so that they can object in person to the development of the cell tower.
The top concerns about the installation of the cell tower are:
Damage to Property Values
The presence of a 120 foot tall tower (as high as a 12 story building) in our neighborhood will lower the value of our property.
Privacy
There are rumors of the Board wanting to install cameras on top of the tower and that these cameras would be looking into the yards of dozens of residents. We have not yet been able to confirm specific details of the camera installation but we are certain that we do not want someone viewing us and our children in our yards every second of every day.
Safety
This tower will be very close to the Sugar Land airport and there is concern of potential collisions with aircraft taking off and landing at the airport. We are contacting the airport and the FAA to make them aware of this danger and to ask them to join us in stopping this tower.
Health Issues
We are concerned about the high levels of variable radio frequency emissions that will be coming from this tower. There are many families in close proximity to the proposed site and the unknown effects of this radiation causes us to want to prevent the construction of the tower.
Lack of Disclosure
There is much anger among residents as to the lack of communication from the Board. The residents of New Territory were not informed of the potential construction and were not asked for consent. There are indications that the construction of the cell tower has been discussed in private since 2006, yet no public disclosure. Last meeting the Board voted to move forward with getting formal request for quotes from carriers. Fortunately a resident of Blakely Bend by chance attended the meeting and raised objections to the lack of disclosure. The decision to proceed will be voted on at the next Board meeting, again without fully disclosing the project to the residents.
Financial Impact
The installation of the tower would bring extra revenue to the NTRCA equivalent to $4 per year per household. This minor financial benefit to homeowners will be more than offset by the decrease in home values of the residents. Additionally this $4 per year benefit is only assuming the revenue generated from leasing the space. It does not include the potential legal fees that may be incurred. Several residents have threatened to file suit against the NTRCA for damages resulting from property devaluation if this tower is constructed. This suit might reach class action status for the hundreds of resident affected in New Territory as well as homeowners in Telfair. When considering the small revenue gain from leasing the tower to the huge potential legal liability it is quite clear that there is no financial justification for the construction of this tower.
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Massive Opposition from Telfair! 171 of 176 homeowners against!!!
StopTheCellTower has received an email for a coalition of Telfair residents expressing thier opposition to the tower. A list of signatures were collected by residents going house to house. A total of 176 homes were visited and 171 are against the cell tower, 5 households are undetermined/neutral, and 0 are for it. While it is true that this issue will be decided by New Territory it is important to be aware of our neighbors in Telfair. StopTheCellTower believes listening to the residents of Telfair and treating them with respect would be wise. I would much rather think of the 171 household against this tower as friends concerned about aesthetics rather than 171 potential litigants in a class action suit against the NTRCA.
Math Lesson: Financial benefit to New Territory from a cell tower
StopTheCellTower has been contacted by several residents who have expressed their intent to file suit against the NTRCA if a tower is built. What would be the financial impact of this? Lets do the math: Property Devaluation $10k-$50k per house. 171 houses in Telfair. $1,710,00 - $8,550,000 in property devaluation. Potential ruling against NTRCA for thrice damages: $5,130,000 - $25,650,000. That is a pretty large sum that might have to be paid by the residents of New Territory and that is just for the Telfair residents. Add in the likely hundreds of New Territory households and we are talking about potential restitution of tens of millions of dollars. Divide that by the number of homes in New Territory (the residents would have to pay a special assesment to cover the award) and we are looking at a potential fees of $10,000 or more per home. While the decision of the court is uncertain we at StopTheCellTower think it is important to look at what might happen if the NTRCA loses in court. That $4 per year revenue from T-Mobile doesnt look so nice now does it?
T-Mobile Provides 2 Maps : Bad Coverage and Excellent Coverage?
StopTheCellTower has been notified by a New Territory resident that T-Mobile has provided coverage maps of New Territory. The map submitted to the NTRCA shows bad coverage in the middle of New Territory and the map shown to customers shows excellent coverage througout all of New Territory. Deception? Fraud? See the maps for yourself.
Should New Territory give out Corporate Welfare?
Why is the NTRCA considering leasing land for the construction of a 120foot cell tower by T-Mobile? Some say it is necessary for T-Mobile to have better coverage in New Territory. But one must ask the question why should we be concerned with assisting T-Mobile coverage area? There are many cell carriers that have complete coverage of all of New Territory and if T-Mobile is unable to provide service comparable to its competitors then they should expect to lose customers. T-Mobile should not look to New Territory for welfare assistance (allowing construction of a tower on our beautiful grounds) for their sub-standard service. The competition is able to offer excellent service without building a tower in our neighborhoods. The NTRCA should focus on their job of maintaining the greatness of New Territory, not helping an inferior cell carrier be more competitive.
Watch out Sterling Heights, Morningside, Sunset Cove, Sterling Chase, Lake Point, Stone Creek, Preston Forest....it might be next to you!!!
StopTheCellTower would like to thank Susan Rash for clarifying that there is currently 1 tower being considered. To be clear, there are two sites being considered for 1 tower. One is in the maintence yard by Robinsons Landing and one is next to The Club. Both locations will be discussed at Monday's meeting. So decide what is best for you and the community; are you ready for a cell tower next to your house? Show up at the Meeting on Monday and let your voice be heard!
Resident Objects to Tower and Prepares for Legal Action!
We have received an email from a resident that recently signed a contract to purchase a home in Lake Pointe, and the next day discovered her new view would contain a 120 foot cell tower. She gave permission for the posting of the letter she sent to the Board Members objecting to the cell tower and the notice that legal action will be taken if it is constructed. Read the letter here: Page 1, Page 2.
Irony!
As we mentioned yesterday, a resident took the initiative to place signs around the neighborhood with StopTheCellTower on them in an effort to inform residents of the cell tower issue and the upcoming Board meeting. We thank them for doing the job our Board should have done 2 years ago. The latest we hear is that the Association is actively taking down the signs in an effort to stop the information flow. Or perhaps its that they think a 2 foot tall sign is an eyesore. A 2 foot tall sign cannot be tolerated but a 120 foot tall tower should go unnoticed? The only conclusion we can draw is that either they are trying to hide information or they are hypocrites. PLEASE....can we have try to have an open and honest debate?
(picture of monopole after multiple carriers attach antennae)COPY OF PRIVATE BULLETIN BOARD ON NEW TERRITORY WEB SITE
PRESS ARTICLES
Check out the article in the Fort Bend Star
Check out the article in Kathy Morrow's Territory News
A report televised MARCH 9th at 6:00 pm on KTRK ABC13 news!
The Fort Bend Star publishes evidence that T-Mobile sent notice to the City of Sugar Land over a year ago about this tower construction at this site. And yet the New Territory Board never notified its residents!!!
The Fort Bend Star publishes another story: New Territory Representative supplies information on cell phone tower.
The Fort Bend Star story about Telfair residents fighting tower
CONTACTS
We encourage you to contact the Board of Directors to voice your opposition to the tower.
A resident has created a Blog that has some interesting links. Well done Paul!...and thanks for linking to our site.
Residents are in the process of collecting signatures from all residents, both for and against the tower. We are still compiling signatures but the latest tally has Robinson Landing residents 91% against, and Blakely Bend 99% against. If you would like to get the signature sheets so that you can start collecting signatures in your neighborhood download it here.
FORMS AND DRAWINGS
Simulated Picture of Tower This drawing provided by T-Mobile conveniently shows an angle that omits the nearby residences and places an existing 25ft telephone pole in the foreground and the 120ft tower in the background to create an illusion that the tower is not tall.
A review of the flaws in T-Mobil's photos and appraisal by Paul Shain, PhD, PE
Board Communication Form This form is the official document submitted by Executive Director, Susan Rash, that contains the construction diagram of the tower. We only became aware of these plans at the time the Board was trying to pass the measure. At not time were residents of this area informed by the Board of their intentions.
NTRCA Bylaws This document contains the Bylaws of NTRCA and details procedures for meetings and Director appointments. There have been several residents asking about what can be done about a Board that does not listens to the residents and can they be removed from office. The Bylaws detail the procedure for impeaching and removing from office any and all Directors such as Rene Banzinger and Cindy Picazo.
We have been notified by a few residents that some StopTheCellTower signs have appeared around the neighborhood. We at StopTheCellTower want to thank whoever is responsible for this. We think it is a great idea to bring traffic to this site so that everyone in New Territory can become aware of what is happening. Our Board appears to have been trying to keep this cell tower a secret and all we want to do is inform our community.
Help the residents of New Territory (especially Blakely Bend and Robinsons Landing) and Telfair communicate the outrage to the NTRCA over the construction of the cell phone tower in our neighborhood. Lets show all of Sugar Land and Fort Bend County that we intend to preserve the beauty and greatness of New Territory.
Remember: Monday, March 15th 7:00pm at The Club. Attend the Board meeting!
Stop The Cell Tower!!!
Keep visiting this site as it will be updated regularly with new developments. If you wish to contact StopTheCellTower.com feel free to email us at: StopTheCellTower.NewTerritory@gmail.com Let us know how we are doing. And if you have questions or concerns that you would like posted or additional information that you would like to make public send it our way!
