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Neighbors urge district to halt or relocate Verizon tower work, cite RF and driveway impacts
Summary
Two residents who live adjacent to Lake Ridge High School told the board the Verizon commercial cell site and associated fiber work have blocked driveways, threatened property and will increase radio-frequency emissions; they asked the district to pursue relocation or buyout before construction finishes.
Residents Ben and Annalie Adams spoke during public testimony, urging the board to stop or relocate work on a Verizon commercial macro tower being built on district property.
Annalie Adams identified herself, said her family lives directly next to Lake Ridge High School and described repeated driveway blockages and trucks she said were preparing to dig into her driveway. "I absolutely do not consent to any digging or work related to the tower happening on our property," she said, and added that the current tower already produced "high readings" that her family had measured. Annalie said the proposed new macro tower "will produce significantly higher output than any other tower in this district" and requested that the district "seek options on relocation or buying up the lease before the work is completed."
Ben Adams said the new tower is being authorized under a grandfather clause and noted the city normally requires towers to be 750 feet apart; he argued two towers so close would not be permitted if it were a new build. He also said a fiber company (referred to in the transcript as "Zipli fiber") appeared to be working without permit and that digging would threaten a 50-year-old privacy hedge on his property. "This is not sustainable for our family," he said, asking the board to take action before crews dig up yards where children play.
During the superintendent's update, Dr. Shields acknowledged the Adams' comments and said the district's attorney had been seeking RF-testing firms without carrier affiliations, adding the district had identified at least one firm and was requesting quotes to bring back to the board at the next meeting.
