Hawthorn Woods to T-Mobile: No cell tower near homes
Hawthorn Woods officials sent a clear signal to T-Mobile quashing at least for now its plans to build a cell tower on unincorporated land near town.
The village board unanimously voted at a special meeting Saturday to forcibly annex roughly 100 acres off Gilmer Road where the tower was planned. The decision came just before T-Mobile could legally start erecting its proposed 195-foot tower - on Monday - per the building permit granted by Lake County.
"Once the property is annexed, the county permit is no longer valid," Hawthorn Woods Mayor Keith Hunt declared triumphantly. "I think the tower that they've proposed does not comply with our zoning ordinances."
The cell tower site falls within a doughnut hole of unincorporated land surrounded by Hawthorn Woods homes. Under Illinois law, cell towers are exempt from county zoning regulations with the exception of height and setbacks. They are permitted at any location in unincorporated areas provided certain requirements are met.
If the annexation goes through and the land becomes part of Hawthorn Woods, T-Mobile will have to get approval from the village to erect the tower at that site.
Hunt said the village and Lake County proposed more than 30 alternate sites where T-Mobile could erect its tower.
"T-Mobile took less than 18 hours to review them before rejecting them out of hand," Hunt said. "This was really the course of last resort and unfortunately T-Mobile forced us to pursue this remedy. Maybe now they'll decide it makes sense to work with the village."
T-Mobile's legal department is reviewing copies of the annexation documents, said Mark Wilson, external affairs manager for the corporation's central region.
"Pending possible legal action, we're not going to be able to comment at this time," Wilson said. "If the annexation is deemed to be legal, and it does indeed go through, then there are limited options. That's something our attorneys will advise us of."
The cell tower was targeted for Indian Creek Farms, home to a horse training facility and clinic.
Farm owner Ross Hugi, a veterinarian specializing in horses, was not pleased with the village's move.
"I would never be happy with being annexed, particularly into the village of Hawthorn Woods," Hugi said.
Hugi would not say whether he would seek legal action against Hawthorn Woods.
Area residents who opposed the cell tower were overjoyed Monday.
"This is the best thing that possibly could happen in Hawthorn Woods," said Joel Friedman, whose property lies a couple of hundred feet from the tower site. "That the neighbors and residents set out to do something and it actually went through. And our government, the mayor, took a stand and case closed."