Inverness deals blow to T-Mobile cell tower plan

Inverness residents saw the designs for stately trees and a decorative brick wall. They heard the benefits to public safety and testimony that property value won't drop.

In the end, the arguments still didn't warm them over to a proposed 100-foot-tall residential cell phone antenna tower.

After months of discussion and delays, the village's plan commission on Tuesday voted against recommending the tower. Final say goes to trustees, who will cast their vote at the Feb. 10 board meeting.

"It's just an aesthetics thing," commission member Greg French said. "We don't have to sell out for the easiest solution."

T-Mobile Central wants to construct a tower next to the fire station at Palatine and Ela roads. The land is owned by the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District, which would in turn get about $25,000 from the cell carrier annually.

Most of the 25 residents who attended Tuesday's plan commission meeting were concerned the structure would diminish their already hurting property values. They said the fire station alone has cost them, even though it's as nice as many of the adjacent houses.

Sue Meyer, who lives next to the site, organized a petition signed by nearly 100 residents against the proposal. An appraiser determined her property value fell by at least 10 percent after the fire station was built.

Inverness officials were willing to consider the unsightly tower because of potential improvements to emergency service. The Northwest Central Dispatch System, which provides 911 service to nine towns, was in talks with T-Mobile to install its own antenna on the tower. Doing so would increase its coverage in the area from 90 percent to 95 percent.

"We don't want our emergency responders to have to stand by a window," radio system manager Jim Hunt said.

Northwest Central piggybacking on the tower meant raising the proposed height from 80 feet to 100 feet. But the extra infrastructure would also allow for multiple carriers. T-Mobile representative Mike Howley said carriers US Cellular and Verizon were on board.

Hunt said the dispatch service is going all digital in the next few years and will need a site in Inverness by then.

"This was an ideal location," he said. "We'll have to go with a less desirable alternative that will ultimately cost taxpayers more. We'll make it work, though."