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Comment from Frank J Witt
Time: February 14, 2008, 11:57 am

I think it “fits” better in a city. I believe the people of Massanetta Springs might view themselves to be “better” (higher cost homes) than common city dwellers. Also, the land owner is rewarded handsomely with cash and usually free services for putting the tower on his property.

Comment from David Miller
Time: February 14, 2008, 12:15 pm

I can’t say that I would blame anyone for not wanting a microwave emitting tower anywhere near their home. Of course they will call to complain about it on their cell phone :) You just gotta love a good ole catch 22. This debate will rage for years in all aspects of Valley life. Let’s hope that all sides can reach compromises that both enable reasonable growth and allow for the character of our fair Valley to remain intact.

Comment from finnegan
Time: February 14, 2008, 12:25 pm

I understand that the city has other ugly tall buildings, but I would still say it mars the view to some degree.

Just because it’s “in the city” and not in Massanetta Springs doesn’t mean residents who live here want any more ugly structures being built. And I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have any cell towers at all, and I’m not saying that the outcry would have been the same in the city as it was in MS, but I do see a double standard of sorts.

I never heard anything at all about that cell tower before the other day, when I saw it there.

Comment from David Miller
Time: February 14, 2008, 12:38 pm

Finn

I am unsure but I would guess that you will find few laws in Harrisonburg that require or even allow public input on a legally placed and properly zoned tower installation.

Comment from Frank J Witt
Time: February 14, 2008, 12:48 pm

I know that the tower across the street from Taste of Thia went up w/o notice…I live right down the street and drive both sides of the surrounding property. I WILL NOT say I agree with the lack of inquest because it does affect many residents that live nearby. I like the idea of cell equipment when attached to water towers like on 42 near Mountain Valley Electric and the car wash. Also, I believe that there “towers” on the water tanks along the interstate. I can picture a huge Chinook Helicopter swooping in and delivery a fully assembled tower ready to be bolted to a secretly poured foundation and then it is assuming the role of “squatter”.

Comment from johnmarr
Time: February 14, 2008, 12:48 pm

I don’t know for sure, but I suspect Dave is right when he eludes that the tower on Grace street was probably constructed on land zoned for it.

I think the only reason that the one at Massanetta Springs is able to be called into question is because it requires some sort of special zoning permit.

Comment from Derik
Time: February 15, 2008, 2:58 pm

I don’t know for sure if this is what has been erected but more then a year ago there was some intense discussion about towers that would be used for the new Emergency Operations Center. Something about upgrading the system and 5 towers that would go up to accommodate it in the city as well as multiple ones in the county.
I think the locations were disclosed 2 years+ ago. The Lacey Springs community fought and won to keep one from being built at Lacey Springs Elementary School.
I don’t remember all the facts and it may not be the same thing.

Comment from Evan
Time: February 17, 2008, 2:35 am

For what it’s worth, here’s my caption info regarding the Harrisonburg tower from The Breeze:
(2/8/08) - (Harrisonburg) Cody McKay of Digital Tower Service ascends Friday to the top of a new land mobile radio tower between the R11 and C6 parking lots. The tower belongs to Norfolk Southern and will be a communication tool for trains. According to crews on site, the tower is also expected to carry Cingular signals. (Evan Dyson/The Breeze)

Comment from samhottinger
Time: February 17, 2008, 10:26 pm

This tower was placed on land owned by Norfolk And Southern Rail Road. Apparently, property owned by the Rail Road does not fall under local zoning regulations. This tower exceeds all height regulations in the City but nothing can be done because the City Does not regulate the Rail Road in any way. The company that erected the tower doesn’t do anything but put up towers like this on Rail Road property.

Comment from Derik
Time: February 18, 2008, 12:12 am

There goes hoping for the best possible bad…..

I have to say the tower startles me every time it comes into view. I think what bothers me the most is that I have to open my sunroof to see the top.
Seeing as how this is in the middle of what has become JMU, I’m surprised they (with a little help from the state) don’t have anything to say. It’s really a blight on the landscape of the city and the JMU campus.

Comment from finnegan
Time: February 18, 2008, 9:05 am

I’m think the same thing about it.

I also live not too far from the other cell tower (the one Frank eluded to) that was erected a few months ago on rail property across from Taste of Thai.

Ugly.

Comment from Frank J Witt
Time: February 18, 2008, 9:19 am

I wish whoever owns the new water tank off of Stone Spring Road would have painted it a more natural color so it would blend in more. There is a cell tower on the Pennsylvania Turnpike that “looks” like a “tree”. Scroll down the page to see pics of it.
http://danbricklin.com/log/celltowers.htm

The following site is intended to show cell phone tower location but as you will see it is very lacking info for H-Burg.
http://www.cellreception.com/towers/towers.php

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Time: September 4, 2008, 12:42 pm

[...] city does not have any regulatory control over Norfolk Southern property. You may recall the cell tower story, when Norfolk Southern erected cell towers along their property that exceeded the city’s [...]