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Petersburg residents press borough over proposed cell towers; assembly to consider code updates
Summary
Multiple residents urged the borough to restrict cell tower siting and update zoning language after construction began on a Mill Road tower; the assembly discussed options and staff warned code changes could take months and must account for federal limits and mixed zoning.
Dozens of Petersburg residents raised objections on Nov. 17 to proposed cell towers and urged borough leaders to take concrete steps to protect homes, schools and care facilities.
Community concerns: Judy Omer told the assembly she and others are collecting signatures opposing tower placements near childcare centers, assisted-living facilities and neighborhoods; she asked the borough to work with residents on safer siting. "We want to keep the towers in the safest areas they can be... and we want to keep them away from child care centers and assisted living facilities, schools, neighborhoods," Omer said.
Tom Swalcke said he discovered active construction for a cell tower on Mill Road near his property with no notice to neighbors. "I had no idea this was coming," Swalcke said; he said the tower will be an "eyesore" and expressed concerns about health risks and potential property-value impacts. Jackie Tyson asked the assembly for a work session "where we just specifically address this issue and come up with something that possibly could benefit all of us."
What the borough said: Borough staff and planning officials said many of Petersburg’s land-use districts are mixed (residential next to commercial and industrial), which complicates a straightforward ban. Planning staff noted current municipal code allows towers in industrial and commercial districts and warned that a blanket exclusion could conflict with federal law governing wireless siting. Director Cabrera said changes would require public engagement and suggested a six-month-plus timeline for code revisions and outreach.
Assembly response and next steps: Several members said they wanted an ordinance to address tower siting in Service Area 1 and more public engagement; others urged immediate staff outreach to confirm permit status for the Mill Road project. Member Mucci proposed drafting an ordinance focused on Service Area 1; Member Valentine and others supported discussing code updates and holding a community meeting. Director Cabrera recommended staff-led public engagement to determine acceptable siting distances, conditional-use processes and whether the borough should pursue zoning amendments in and outside Service Area 1.
Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from public testimony and assembly discussion at the Nov. 17 meeting.
