North Union Street location has neighbors concerned

The latest cellular tower battle in Parma is between residents in a neighborhood off North Union Street near Route 104 and the Parma Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board. The Zoning Board recently approved a variance that may permit the construction of a 180-foot tower on property owned by Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) at 1800 North Union Street. The applicant is SBA Inc., a company that builds cellular towers and then rents their use, and Cellular One is the probable tenant for the proposed tower.

Currently, a 180-foot tower owned by RG&E already exists on the property. "There's too much on the present tower and no high enough locations on it available for Cellular One," said Supervisor Richard Lemcke. "The town insists on cohabitation on these towers if it means eliminating the need for another one in the vicinity, but that isn't the case this time."

The proposal also specifies an 11 by 20-foot equipment building for Cellular One and four possible buildings, two of the same size and two smaller, for other tenants. The proposed site is zoned General Commercial, although a tower is allowed in any district in Parma with a special permit. "No one likes having these towers in their backyards, but this location is really the best we could hope for," said Lemcke.

Residents don't agree. "I know modern progress must go on, but I'm not fond of having two towers in my backyard," said Joyce Zielke of Edward Lane. In addition to devaluing her property, she said she and her husband, David, are worried about drainage. "It's been a lot better than it was before they dug a drainage ditch, but we're worried that our problems will come back if this tower's built," she said.

A State Environmental Quality Review has been completed on the RG&E property and the town's Conservation Board has made a negative declaration. Site plan approval by the Planning Board is the next step in the process, which will include another review of the drainage concerns.

Julie McPherson, also of Edward Lane, said she's also concerned about drainage. "Digging four 30-foot holes to put this thing up and filling them with crushed stone, then building a road leading up to it isn't going to do anything to absorb the water around here," she said.

More lightning strikes in an area where there are many homes is a concern among residents as well. There are 52 homes in the Edward Lane/Loretta Drive neighborhood. Forty-five residents signed a petition objecting to the tower's location and have presented it to the Zoning Board.

A public hearing will be held, but no date was available at the time of publication. Pending Planning Board approval, the tower is due to be constructed this spring.