A proposed 200-foot tower that would help fill in emergency radio “dead spots” throughout Denver has pitted residents who worry about the eyesore against efforts to improve public safety.
“It is very tricky,” City Councilwoman Kathleen MacKenzie said. “You’re asking a specific neighborhood to put up with an undesirable structure for the benefit of the entire city.”
The debate is focused on the Hillcrest community in south Denver, but an ordinance – in its current form – to allow the tower opens the door for more towers in other parts of the city.
For years, Denver police and firefighters have dealt with communication problems in several areas around the city, including downtown, the Denver Tech Center, Cherry Creek, Stapleton and Bear Valley.
In the worst cases, officers outside of buildings are unable to communicate with those inside. City officials say if the problem is not fixed, the results could be dire.
“You are talking about living and dying,” said Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz, who chairs the Safety Committee. “There is nothing that is more important to me than being sure that our safety officers are able to talk to each other and understand one another’s needs in a crisis.”
To solve the problem, city officials are considering a network of communication towers to be placed in particular areas to maximize the signal.
So far, the tower solution is in the planning stages. The proposal is scheduled for discussion in the City Council’s Blueprint Denver committee today.
At five of the six sites, the city found less-obstructive locations – such as on top of buildings. But the Hillcrest site requires a roughly 20-story tower – one that would violate a “viewplain ordinance” forbidding such structures.
While residents understand the need to improve communication among police and fire departments, they are hoping there can be some other alternative.
“The better our police and fire guys can communicate, the better off we all are,” said Rob Baumgarten, president of the Southmoor Park Homeowners Association. However, “I feel the same way about it as anybody would who has the potential of having a 200-foot tower put within 1,000 feet of their home. It’s a drag, it’s an eyesore and it (stinks).”
The concern goes beyond Hillcrest. In its current form, the ordinance to allow the communication towers includes a zoning change that would exempt such towers all over the city.
The city’s telecommunications task force worked with private industry to come up with guidelines for communication towers, said Harvey Cohen, who served on the task force. Cohen said he hopes the city works with the recommendations.
Councilwoman Jeanne Robb agreed, noting that Congress Park has had a tower for years, and property values have continued to rise.
“I think we need a very strong process for neighborhood input,” Robb said, “because I think the neighbors have raised some excellent issues.”
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-820-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
