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Verizon cell tower at Castleburg Park pulled for later discussion after residents raise health and siting concerns
Summary
Council pulled agenda item 9.6—a proposed land lease with Verizon to install a cell tower at Castleburg Park—and scheduled it for March 11 after residents voiced concerns about proximity to parks, an elementary school and non-English-speaking households.
The Riverbank City Council removed a proposed land-lease agreement with Verizon Wireless to install a cell tower at Castleburg Park from the consent calendar and scheduled the item for a future discussion on March 11 after multiple residents raised health, safety and siting concerns during public comment.
Staff announced the consent calendar change at the start of the meeting and said the tower item would be discussed at the March 11 meeting. When the council invited public comment on the item, multiple residents urged reconsideration of the Castleburg location because of its proximity to children’s activities and nearby California Elementary School.
Kelly Velasco, a parent and licensed in-home preschool operator, told the council she was “kindly but aggressively” opposed to locating the tower at Castleburg Park and asked the city to consider alternative sites such as Jacob Myers Park or Rainbow Fields. Velasco said she was concerned about long-term health impacts and noted limited research on long-term effects and the community’s limited English proficiency and health-care access. “I’m not completely against it. I just worry that there is not enough data that shows that this is okay, especially so close in proximity to an elementary school,” Velasco said.
Other callers and residents likewise urged alternative locations; one resident suggested working with private property near commercial development to site equipment farther from homes. Councilmember Kaul (first referenced earlier in the meeting) said many constituents in her district oppose siting an antenna in a park and suggested council consider an ordinance to keep antennas out of parks for future guidance. No council vote was taken; staff said the item will return to the March 11 council agenda for public hearing and further deliberation.
The agenda item was listed as consent calendar item 9.6 at the meeting and was pulled for later consideration; staff noted public comments would be accepted again when the item is heard in March.
