Geneva panel says no to 85-foot Verizon tower near Eagle Brook

A simulation of what a proposed 85-foot cell phone tower would look like at a shopping center at 1749 S. Randall Road in Geneva. The city's Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend denying special-use zoning for the tower after a May 23 public hearing.
Courtesy of the city of Geneva

After a three-hour public hearing last Thursday, the Geneva Planning and Zoning Commission voted against recommending a special use permit allowing an 85-foot Verizon cell tower at a shopping center at 1749 S. Randall Rd.

Petitioner Doug Dolan of Dolan Realty Advisors and president of DRA Properties, the company that will own the cell site, testified that the tower meets all the requirements for a special use.

The tower would be light gray in color, unobtrusive and blend into its surroundings with all antennas and hardware hidden inside, he said. Reports from real estate appraisers showed that this would have no effect on property values; and that it is necessary to avoid an interruption of Verizon's mobile phone coverage.

Dolan said it was a reworked version of a 2021 proposal that was not approved.

“The proposed use of the specified location is consistent with the comprehensive plan,” Dolan said.

Dolan said Verizon needed the additional tower to fill a coverage gap because the system was close to capacity.

About a dozen residents of the nearby Eagle Brook subdivision challenged the accuracy and integrity of the documents provided, as well as Dolan's testimony.

Resident Emily McCafferty, who lives on Eldorado Drive, questioned Verizon's reports that cell towers do not negatively impact property values.

McCafferty gave a PowerPoint presentation comparing home sales of those already near other cell towers in Eagle Brook to those of a comparable subdivision in Wheaton built by the same developer, Keim Custom Homes.

Research presented by Eagle Brook resident Emily McCafferty on the impact on home values ​​if an 85-foot Verizon cell tower is permitted at 1749 S. Randall Road, Geneva.
Courtesy of the city of Geneva

The total projected drop in value of the 83 Eagle Brook homes closest to the tower — if approved — was more than $3 million, according to McCafferty's research.

“This tower is in an industrial or commercial area that is not closely surrounded by residences,” McCafferty said.

Resident Dale Rathunde of Crystal Tree Court presented a petition with 136 names of residents whose streets connect to Bent Tree — the street behind which the cell tower is proposed — all opposed.

Rathunde disputed Dolan's assertion that more connections were needed to cell towers and the Verizon engineer's affidavit that existing towers were nearly full and users would experience call drops.

“If that were the case, Verizon would be able to show an increase in dropped call rates over time, especially during peak hours,” Rathunde said.

Rathunde said Verizon is pushing this tower near residential neighborhoods to support its home internet product to entice people to ditch cable.

Don Manikes, another Eldorado Drive resident, disputed the petitioner's report that a cell tower could improve the property values ​​of neighboring homes.

“As a real estate attorney with 30 years of experience, I can tell you this is not credible,” Manikes said.

Dolan cited the property appraiser's report that cell towers have no impact on property values.

In voting 6-0 to recommend denial, the commission cited special use standards that affect property values ​​and neighborhood character.

The commission also recommended that before Dolan presented the application to the City Council, he signed a lease from Verizon for the tower, a structural design plan for the foundation and tower, a review of the National Policy Act of the environment regarding the location and construction of the tower. , as well as information showing that the current system is at capacity.