Sample E-mails

Two versions are provided. The first is a short call to action to act more responsibly regarding the antenna installations community wide. The second is the longer version that provides the level of detail we included in the petition.

Short Version Sample E-mail

To: San Diego City Council and Planning Commissions

I, [Insert Your Name], a resident of [Insert Community Name] do hereby:

1. Request that the City require the phone companies to submit a complete plan community by community so the entire effect of cell antenna installations in close proximity to residential areas can be evaluated in public.
2. Require the City Transportation Department to reverse its policy and permit installation on traffic lights
3. Re-evaluate the current draft of the proposed regulations and policy and request specific homeowner protections that are lacking in current drafts, such as a requirement that the cell companies submit a complete plan for each community and minimum setback requirements from the nearest single family home (200ft-500 ft is what many other cities require) within single family and residential zones.

Sincerely, [Insert Your Name]

Longer Version Sample E-mail

To: San Diego City Council and Planning Commissions

We, [Insert Your Name], a resident of [Insert Community Name] do hereby:

OPPOSE the placement of a Cell Antenna located North of Quarter Mile drive on the East side of El Camino Real on a street light in the middle of a residential neighborhood and under 100 feet from the nearest single family home. This is just one example of the City of San Diego's current policy to approve residential placements of Cell Antenna's in public right of way locations such as utility poles and street lights.

OPPOSE the current "divide and conquer" tactic being imposed on the citizens of San Diego by its own City Government whereby a cell phone Company chooses the site most likely to be approved, currently a street light near a residence (could be yours next) and a City Project Manager approves it. Since it only affects five or ten families at a time, nobody notices or cares and we have no power to protect ourselves. We demand that the City force the phone companies to submit a complete plan community by community so the entire effect can be evaluated in public. Rancho Santa Fe recently demanded nothing less and won.

OPPOSE this Cell Antenna installation for the following reasons:

1. The proposed installation is less than 100 feet from the nearest single family home and will cause severe harm to the property values of the single family homes that will be in the vicinity. (A recently published Assessment Journal for the Appraiser profession stated that proximity to a wireless tower needs to be considered as a negative amenity that may reduce residential property valuation.)

2. A previous Sprint proposal was for the Traffic Lights at the intersection of 1/4 mile drive and El Camino Real nearly 200 feet from the nearest single family home. We believe that Traffic Lights are a better alternative to a Street Light whenever possible. The City Transportation department has refused to permit Antennas on Traffic Lights even though they have permitted it in the past and there are specific guidelines on how to do so safely. We believe the community needs to make it clear the policy is unacceptable. With traffic lights off limits, street lights will become the easier option and that means Antennas in our quiet and peaceful cul-de-sacs, in front of our homes and within plain view from our yards.

3. With a new policy and proposed regulations on Cell Antenna Location Criteria in San Diego about to go before the City Council for approval, if we don't put some inherent protections for single family homeowners into place now we will see the proliferation of cell antenna placements on street lights all over residential neighborhoods in the months to come.

REQUEST the following ACTIONS from the City Council and Neighborhood Planning Commissions:

1. Force the City Transportation Department to reverse its policy and permit installation on traffic lights

2. Re-evaluate the current draft of the proposed regulations and policy and request specific homeowner protections that are lacking in current drafts, such as a requirement that the cell companies submit a complete plan for each community and minimum setback requirements from the nearest single family home (200ft-500 ft is what many other cities require) within single family and residential zones.

Sincerely, [Insert Your Name]