Antenna rationale not coming in clear

We understand and appreciate the concerns of those opposing a cellular-phone antenna tower at St. William Church. That said, we don’t understand the council majority’s rationale for denying it.

The council voted 4-1 last week, Councilman Curtis Cole dissenting, to reject a MetroPCS antenna proposal on the basis of aesthetics. Despite the health concerns expressed, council is forbidden by federal law to deny on the basis of health if radiofrequency emission levels meet acceptable standards.

The aesthetics reasoning behind the council’s decision, however, strikes us as having less to do with logic and more with being caught up in the emotions of the opponents.

Councilmembers indicated the cross design for the antenna was out of line with the existing church building, this despite city staff and planning commission conclusions to the contrary. Mayor Ron Packard reasoned that MetroPCS did not offer enough information to prove the antenna was a “community benefit.”

The councilmembers’ reasons amounted to grasping at straws. The real reason for denial seemed to be placating the vocal opposing residents who clearly were more worried about health issues.

What’s interesting to note here is, just a few years ago, the council approved a far more obtrusive monopole in a residential neighborhood at Fremont Avenue and Giffin Road. The city then moved forward with stricter guidelines.

We expect councilmembers to make decisions reflective of solid reasoning. We can’t say that this particular case was an example of that.

Summer camp, Hidden Villa preserved

We’re pleased and relieved to hear the board of directors at Hidden Villa has decided to keep operating the nature preserve’s 12-day multicultural summer camp. It’s clear the passion for the program, expressed in the outcry of former campers across six decades of the camp’s history, has changed the board’s earlier decision to discontinue it.

Certainly, Hidden Villa’s budget setbacks are very real and program cuts must be made. However, the summer camp, traced back to the wilderness preserve’s origins, is the heart and spirit of all that Hidden Villa stands for. Time and again, former campers say their experience was a life-changing event.

The camp brings children with diverse backgrounds together in an appreciation of nature as well as of themselves and their differences. Campers emerge with a more complete outlook on the importance of the environment and the evils of racism. For this reason, the Town Crier Holiday Fund has consistently supported the camp program for disadvantaged kids.

The board’s decision to preserve the program was also a decision to preserve Hidden Villa.