Neighbors, Parents' Coalition Fighting Proposed Cell Phone Pole on Sligo Middle School Property

Residents near Sligo Middle School are hoping the special examiner will rule against MCPS’ and T-Mobile special exception request to put a 130-foot cell phone monopole on the property of the school.

The special exception hearing, held on Feb. 11th, garnered the attention of a number of residents in the areas north of the school.  In addition to concerns that they were not properly notified, residents think the pole will lower property values, become a safety hazard to the nearby school and impact the open space near Sligo Creek Park.

According to Mary Pat Wilson, real estate management specialist for MCPS who attended the hearing, T- Mobile approached MCPS almost two years ago to put a single monopole cell reception tower on the site. In hearing testimony, T-Mobile’s lawyer noted that the middle school site was not their first choice, but building sites in more commercial areas were either unsuitable or not willing to enter into a lease.

The single pole would be placed behind the school’s tennis courts, in the center of a 30 by 80 foot gravel compound surrounded by a fence and trees.

Nearby homeowner and Parents’ Coalition member Janis Sartucci filed a motion to dismiss the special exception. Sartucci’s main objections: the staff member who authorized the special exception was not a member of the board of the education, the body ultimately authorized to sign real estate and telecommunications deals. Sartucci also noted that the “lessee” box was checked in the special exception, but no lease exists currently between MCPS and T-Mobile.

The office of Real Estate Management, in an email to Patch, explained that the Board of Education authorized the Superintendent to “executive short term agreements”, generally five years or less, in Sept. 2003. In turn, the Superintendent makes the director of facilities management his designee for those agreements. Joseph Lavorgna was acting director of the facilities management department when he signed the special exception, although he was no longer in that position when the special exception was filed on Nov. 24, 2010. 

The lease issue is not as clear. Wilson stated in her testimony that during her time working on telecommunications leases, the superintendent had, in every case signed telecommunications leases after a special exception hearing. Sartucci disputed this, but neither had additional evidence.

Hearing examiner Lynn Robeson soon moved to expert testimony after this discussion.

“I do understand, structurally, why the school system would proceed after the fact to do the lease, but technically, the language of the statue requires the co-owner to be an applicant,” Robeson said.

A request to MCPS to clarify the lease issue has not been returned so far.

Procedural objections aside, residents say that T-Mobile’s pole has nothing to do with improving customer service, but rather an attempt to gain market share by building on public property.

Resident Andrea Cernich is among the neighbors opposing the special exception. Cernich likens it to a residential neighbor renting out their property to a private interest, which is not allowed in residential area.

 “We’re giving space to T-Mobile to erect something so large, but it wouldn’t serve the community,” she said.

She also worries about the impact on adjacent portion of Sligo Creek Trail.

“The wildlife in that area is so profound”, Cernich said, noting she saw deer footprints in the area where the monopole would be installed. “Zoning laws are supposed to protect that environment.” 

John Polleto and his wife Kathryn were at the hearing. The Polleto’s main concern is how it will affect the school and the negative quality of life aspects for both students and nearby residents. The tree line between the Polleto’s house on Gridley Lane and the school is thinning, and they worry that the monopole will tower over their neighborhood, lowering property values.

“This tower ideally belongs in commercial area,” Polleto said.

MCPS expects to gain approximately $2000 a month in revenue from the monopole. 

TBD reports that there will be a community meeting on the proposed monopole on March 8, as part of the PTA meeting.