I live in an area of Altadena with almost no cell phone coverage at home, so I’m grateful that another cell tower is being installed close to home. It’s easy for the good folks of Historic Highlands to oppose the tower because they live in an area with adequate cell phone coverage.

I live on Loma Alta near Porter, where we have lousy cell coverage and am in favor of cell towers across Altadena to bring coverage up to the mountains.

I especially like the towers disguised as faux palms.

With regard to cell coverage in Altadena, the cell phone service providers can place antennas on utility poles in order to improve coverage in difficult to reach areas such as foothills and canyons. For example, at the intersection of Altadena Dr. and Fair Oaks,you can see cell antennas placed on a telephone pole. I believe this is a better approach to servicing local cell phone users because the antennas are closer to “coverage gaps” and they present no intrusion to aesthetics of the area. This is unlike the detrimental impact of a 56 foot tower near the St. Elizabeth church tower which was designed by noted architect Wallace Neff and which is in essence the gateway to Altadena. Those opposed to the cell tower at St. Elizabeth are advocating for a well planed use of utility pole antennas to fill any coverage gaps while still “Keeping Altadena Beautiful” We would appreciate if any comments to the Regional Planning Commission would include a request for utility pole antenna placement instead of a 56 foot cell tower which would only service an eight block radius. Thanks for reading and thanks for your support.

Steve Escovar

Thank you to Historic Highlands, the Altadena Town Council, Altadena Heritage, Wallace Neff Jr. and over 500 petitioners who believe that our voice can and will make a difference on December 3, 2008. The public comment portion of the hearing is designed so that the community can be heard. In the Staff Analysis of the previously mentioned report, the recommendation is, “. . .subject to change based on testimony and /or documentary evidence presented at the public hearing:.”

I urge all those who feel they need additional cell phone coverage to ask for utility poll placement by their respective carriers. Coverage can be achieved without negatively impacting the welfare of the community and preserving a historically significant Church and Oak Tree.