Golf course community opposed to cell antenna

A group of Lake Barrington residents are preparing to tell village officials just how much they don't want a new cellular antenna near their homes at this Thursday's plan commission hearing.

The 75-foot T-Mobile antenna would be located on the golf course of Lake Barrington Shores, within sight of 88 of the gated community's homes, resident Ruth Salemi said.

The height of the antenna requires a special-use permit to be built, but there are four taller antennas of about 120 feet each that were built in the village during the late '80s and early '90s, Village Administrator Christopher Martin said.

However, the village's existing antennas are all in the business park, and the location of the proposed antenna in a residential area may be something that makes the new case unique, Martin added.

Village President Kevin Richardson said he did not want to make any statement that would preclude the work or recommendation of the plan commission next week.

But he did acknowledge that the village's decision on this proposal was akin to a policy statement about cellular antennas in residential areas.

While T-Mobile has the same rights as anyone to make a proposal to the village, it also bears the burden of making its case for a special-use permit, Richardson said.

"I know there's a lot of concern up there and I share it," Richardson said of Lake Barrington Shores.

Resident Janet Nietvelt said she and her neighbors intend to argue that the antenna would have a negative effect on their property values and ability to sell their homes, based on data provided by Realtors.

They also plan to present a petition signed by affected residents opposed to the antenna. Though they won't reveal the number of signatures before the hearing, they said it includes more than three quarters of Lake Barrington Shores' residents.

Nietvelt said she also feels betrayed by the active role the developer of Lake Barrington Shores is playing in the request for the antenna.

When she and her husband moved to the community 10 years ago, it was with the understanding that the development was already built out and that the golf course would always be a golf course.

"Never in a million years would we think the developer himself would try to shove a commercial eyesore in here," Nietvelt said.

The plan commission hearing begins at 7 p.m. Thursday. Any recommendation made would have to be approved by the village board at a later date for action to be taken.