New Cell Tower Reviewed Again, Still Has Support

Sonora, CA — The Tuolumne County Supervisors gave final approval for a tower to bring better cell coverage to southern Tuolumne County. Anthem Telecom plans to build a 100-plus foot tall tower, designed to resemble a tree, in the 12000 block of Par Court, on the Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course.

Three people spoke in favor including Joe Powell General Manager for Pine Mountain Lake Association. There was no one at the public hearing who spoke against the proposal. The appeal to the Tuolumne County Planning Commission’s approval was submitted by David Rhodes.

District 2 Supervisor Randy Hanvelt noted emergency services in the area need better cell coverage to communicate during fires stating; “Communication is the weak link whether broadband or telephone, I just feel we need as much as we can. We are a tourist area where tourists, when they come in, we put them at risk if we don’t have community services available to them. So I feel we have to support the construction of this tower- it is essential.”

The permit was aproved 3-0 with Supervisors Grey and Brennan absent.

The Conditional Use Permit will allow a wireless mono-pine tower; painted green and brown like a tree; with up to nine antennas; four outdoor equipment cabinets; and two smaller cabinets, for power and to connect with a land based phone line. The tower could accommodate up to four wireless carriers and 36 antennas in the future. The tower area will be within a 60 ft. x 60 ft. chain link fenced compound, with green painted slats, on the northwest portion of a 134 acre parcel on the Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course, east of Groveland.