Residents urge council to revisit 33rd Street cell-tower site; concerns about alternatives and evacuation routes voiced

Several residents used the June 11 public comment period to press the council to revisit a planning-board approval for a 125-foot cell tower proposed at 33rd and Bay Avenue.

Tom Sriani (speaking for his brother) told the council his research found "91 alternate existing structures" — including telephone poles and commercial rooftops — that he said should be vetted before erecting a new tower. He urged the council to follow the municipal ordinance language that, he said, prohibits new towers if there is ability to extend pre-existing structures. He also proposed a municipal alternative near 45th Street, noting that site already hosts municipal facilities such as a water tower and would likely blend in with existing infrastructure.

Archie Siri asked the council to publicly reconsider or re-vote the planning-board approval, saying, "You guys have the ability. You make the decision, not the planning board," and asked for additional due diligence on alternatives.

Residents also raised safety concerns tied to the proposed site. Sydney Delki said the fall zone from a 125-foot tower at 33rd and Bay would include Bay Avenue and "would block a coastal evacuation route," pointing to the city's published evacuation routes as the basis for the concern.

At the same meeting an audience member who identified himself as a physician addressed health fears about 5G and cellular antennas, saying such electromagnetic fields are low energy and asserting, "The energy levels for 5G is a million times below the threshold" for ionizing damage. His remarks directly rebutted claims that such antennas create a high radiation risk.

Council did not take formal action on the site during this meeting. Several residents said they had submitted written materials and asked the council to respond publicly at the next meeting or consider re-voting the planning-board decision.