Burke, Va., residents divided over construction of 16-story cell tower in neighborhood

Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/25570245/burke-va-residents-divided-over-construction-of-16-story-cell-tower-in-neighborhood#ixzz32JwbJS4I

BURKE, Va. -
Burke Centre, Va., is a planned community of more than 5,800 homes, with schools, shopping centers, trails and parks, athletic courts and swimming pools. All the amenities but one: the cell phone service here is weak.

Shaking her head, resident Renee Miller told us, "[Cell service] works when it wants to work. You can never rely upon it."

25-year resident Bev Steffen agreed: "It is a dead zone in the area. I mean, if you go in front of the Giant Food, the WalMart, the elementary school, your calls -- they'll drop off."

One of the biggest of the nation's wireless companies, AT&T, has proposed leasing land in Burke Centre to construct a very large cell tower: a 160-foot tall monopole. A small building would be constructed alongside the cell tower; so would a generator for backup power.

The AT&T proposed site is in a wooded area close to one of the swimming pools in Burke Centre. If a new tower is constructed, the homeowners association, named the Burke Centre Conservancy, will get rental payments.

According to the executive director of the homeowners association, Patrick Gloyd, AT&T's "initial offer was in the neighborhood of $1,500 a month."

Once the plan was shared with residents, opposition surfaced. A group of residents opposed to the cell tower lined some of the area pathways with signs saying “NO CELL TOWER.” But those signs have been removed because they violated the strict no-signs rule of the homeowners association.


"We keep it nice and clean," explained the executive director of the association. "You'll notice that the usual signs advertising power washing companies aren't in Burke Centre because we police [posted signs] pretty closely."

So, the argument over the proposed cell tower remains a subject of internet postings and conversations.

Eleven-year resident Renee Miller favors constructing the AT&T tower: "I do, I do. I pay for cell phone service. It would be nice to receive what one is paying for."

But Bev Steffen, who admits wireless service is weak, opposes allowing the large tower in the residential neighborhood: "I think there's enough cell phone service elsewhere that we could live without it."

At this point, the homeowners' board is apparently undecided about locating the cell tower near the pool. They're asking AT&T if there's another, more palatable location.

I've never gotten cell service in my home in Burke (in the Woods community) but aside from my house, I have no issue with it.

I've solved the problem by switching to a wifi based cell carrier.

Actually, I give the antis a little credit. They're not claiming that the radioactivity is going to give their kids a third arm, or something like that (and there's zero evidence that a cell tower is dangerous). They're just saying it's ugly, which it is. It's pretty funny, though, to read how they're screaming at the (elected) conservancy board. This is what they're elected for. If you don't like what they do, elect other people.

I've never had a problem with cell service in Burke. Those interviewed claiming poor cell service are probably ATT plants.

I would think Clifton would have a greater need for improved cell service. Why not plop a tower on the Clifton Elementary School property and pay FCPS a monthly fee. There'd be some positive pr spin for AT&T - supporting education while enriching the lives of the entire community.

Either give you a tumor in your ass