City Council Story

The Northridge West Neighborhood Council unanimously approved for the installation of a cell phone antennae on the roof of a local church, during an April 13 meeting.

Northridge Christian Church, located on the northwest corner of Wilbur and Chatsworth, was approached by Clear Wireless, a service provider, in an attempt to increase the capabilities of wireless users in the area.

“Our property has great advantage,” said Steve Cook, the Senior Pastor of the church. “We have an elevation that is 30 to 40 feet higher than any surrounding area.”

Motioned by the council’s president, Thomas Johnson, the tower is set to include six panel antennas, one GPS antenna, three parabolic antennas, six DAP heads, and one ground mounted equipment  cabinet.

Recent housing additions in the neighborhood have seen a boom in cell phone usage, requiring more bandwidth with the increasing population.

Investigations led by Clearwire’s engineers determined that the lack of wireless facilities in the neighborhood resulted in coverage deficiencies and “customer inability to send, receive, or maintain wireless communication”, as stated in the company’s written proposal.

Initially, a 45-foot cell tower pole was to be erected on a land strip on Tampa Avenue, north of Devonshire. This motion was rejected by the council and deemed dangerous to pedestrians and drivers.

“The possibility of a tower on Tampa, next to an existing one, isn’t smart,” Johnson said. “Drivers can crash into it, increasing the chances of severe injuries. On top of that, it’s unsightly.”

Clearwire has been mindful in their selection of a site, overseeing that construction does not have any adverse effects on the property.

“The proposed antennas and structures will add eight feet to the height of the building,” Cook said. “They will be hidden in a cupola on top of the existing roofline.”

Members of the church are aware of the motion, but were not part of the decision making process. A meeting with the Board of Elders solidified the proposal after an undisclosed amount was given to the church for their approval.

“I understand why the pastor wants to be involved with the wireless company, but the church already has a large antenna on the grass field. I don’t want them to forget that this is a place for religious celebration, not an antenna lot,” said Jason Landers, a member of the church.

The design of the structure will have equal involvement from the property owner, members of the church, and Clearwire in order to ensure there is no negative visual impact on the neighborhood.

“Enhanced wireless communications will have a positive influence on personal, business, governmental, and other existing uses in this area,” Clearwire suggested in their plan.

Final plans have been submitted to the city for further approval.

“We want to make the church a stronger entity within the community…and offer a more prominent role,” Pastor Cook said.

Construction is set to begin in September/October and is expected to last a few months.

Sources: Steve Cook, Thomas Johnson, Clearwire/Clear Wireless, Jason Landers

Word Count: 510