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Winter Springs officials press Verizon on small-cell siting as residents raise health and proximity concerns
Summary
City staff described long-running Verizon plans for small-cell nodes and said Verizon is willing to consider aesthetic and siting alternatives; residents raised concerns about proximity to homes and potential health effects, which the mayor said he found no evidence for in his preliminary searches.
City staff updated the commission on recent meetings with Verizon about small-cell 5G nodes and said the carrier is willing to discuss aesthetic treatments and alternate siting to reduce neighborhood impacts.
"They were certainly receptive to discussions with regards to meeting us somewhere with some of the aesthetics as it relates to decisions on color of poles," City Manager Kevin Sweet said, describing a two-hour meeting with Verizon engineers and government-affairs staff.
Sweet said Verizon’s immediate plans are largely pole replacements—using existing utility poles where feasible—and that the company has identified coverage gaps driving the initiative. He noted constraints such as the city’s tree canopy in Tuscalawilla and Duke Energy’s role as the pole owner in many locations.
Several commissioners and the mayor raised concerns that have circulated among residents, including a question about pacemaker interference. Mayor Kevin McCann said he had looked for evidence and had not found credible studies indicating direct health effects from cellular nodes but asked residents to share any reputable materials: "I have not been able to find any evidence... If you have something, please share it because those were some alarming comments that were made." (Mayor Kevin McCann)
During final public input, resident Scott Freeburn urged the city to press Verizon on safety distances and noted small cells in Winter Springs Boulevard appear close to homes. "They’re within 50 of people's back doors," Freeburn said, calling for the city to reopen conversations about distances.
Commissioners asked staff to continue dialogues with carriers, to explore less-visible locations where feasible, and to return with design options or a workshop if needed. Staff also flagged that other carriers may follow Verizon’s rollout in future years.
