After nearly a decade of static, Verizon Wireless and residents and business owners in Oracle have finally reached clarity.
On Aug. 16, the Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended that the Pinal County Board of Supervisors approve Verizon's proposal to install a 150-foot tower adjacent to an existing AT&T tower next to eastbound American Avenue, northeast of the previously proposed location behind the midtown Oracle Market, 760 E. American Ave.
The tower is expected to boost cellphone reception for Oracle's Verizon customers, as well as improve the Oracle Fire Department's emergency communications system.
Chad Ward of Pinnacle Consulting Inc., which is working with Verizon Wireless, said Verizon hoped to move quickly to build the tower pending board approval, which could happen as early as Wednesday. Installation could begin as soon as the fall, upgrading cellphone service by the end of the year.
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The tower could prove useful for non-Verizon customers. Because the tower is tall enough to accommodate three other levels of radio frequency transmitter radials, other cellphone providers could cut deals with Verizon to piggyback on the tower.
Ross Hopkins, who is retired from the National Park Service, is pleased with the location. For years he led community efforts to fight cellphone companies' - first Nextel, then Verizon - proposals to build towers behind what's now called Oracle Market.
"We mounted a public involvement campaign, and Verizon finally bought it," he said.
Oracle residents were concerned that the tower would jeopardize use of a helipad used by emergency services by interfering with helicopter pilots' signals, as well as jeopardize the historic standing of some Oracle buildings, and the county government sided with them.
In 2010 the Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the Board of Supervisors deny Verizon's application, causing Pinnacle Consulting to withdraw the application from the supervisors' agenda before a vote was called.
At that point, community leaders worked with Pinnacle to come up with alternate locations for the tower.
Via email, Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Jenny Weaver said the company changed its original plans after soliciting input from nearby businesses and people.
"We have been listening carefully and working with Oracle public safety officials, businesses and residents to find a location for a new cell site to expand and enhance our service in response to customer demand," she said via email.
Verizon hopes the new site works out best for everyone, Weaver said.
"Many factors determine site selection, including engineering considerations, topography, zoning requirements, FCC guidelines, community input and more," she said.
"Verizon Wireless has steered a steady course to find the best location for a new cell site for the Oracle community that balances all those factors. We believe the new site will be a great asset to Oracle customers and could not agree more with Mr. Hopkins. This is truly a winning solution for the community."
Hopkins said he's happy with the agreed-upon site for the tower.
"It wasn't going to do a whole lot for ambiance at the center of town," he said. "We haven't got much up here, but we'd love to keep what we have."
Contact reporter Phil Villarreal at 573-4130 or pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
