Maple Park rejects cell tower near playground

Maple Park trustees this week voted down a proposed cell phone tower that would have been just feet from a playground.

Trustee Pat Lunardon said Thursday that the tower did not meet zoning specifications for the proposed site, just south of the Civic Center, 302 Willow St., which is designated for businesses and residences only.

She said the village could have pursued a zoning change at a public hearing, but decided against it Tuesday in light of opposition from several residents.

"Since the village voiced an opinion they didn't want it, we figured why waste the time and money?" she said.

The decision came as welcome news to more than 230 villagers who signed a petition opposing the 185-foot tower, which would have been tucked between a playground and baseball diamonds frequented by local families.

"We felt it was a very positive outcome," said villager Lauri Heyob, who credited "some really dedicated residents" for bringing attention to the matter.

Village officials had said an agreement with U.S. Cellular to erect the tower would have generated about $9,600 a year in new revenue, and that amount would have increased by 15 percent every five years.

It's possible the company still could reach an agreement with a private landowner to put up the tower, Lunardon said, but there is no other village property being considered.

Heyob said she thought the village board made the right choice. "Maple Park does need the revenue, of course, but not at the cost of placing a cell tower in the playground," she said.