Neighbors Oppose Mount Holyoke Avenue Cell Tower Proposal

A proposed AT&T wooden cellular communications pole for 302 Mount Holyoke Ave. has residents rallying together to stop it from moving forward. A pending permit notice affixed to a pole at the end of the road, adjacent to a park overlooking the coast, states a 45-foot wooden pole with panel antennas is before the California Coastal Commission by AT&T.

The item also made the Land Use Committee's Aug. 2 agenda for discussion, which takes place at 12:40 p.m. at the .

Resident Trevor Neilson represents those opposed to the pole, citing aesthetic, open space and health concerns if it's approved. He created the Facebook Group "Stop AT&T From Putting Cell Towers in Palisades Parks" on Sunday, and by late Monday night, it had 125 members and counting. A petition against the cell tower also circulates the Facebook discussion, calling on City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom for support. It had 46 signatures Monday night.

"AT&T would be wise to drop this idea," Neilson said in an interview Monday at the site. "This is not the place for a 45-foot industrial tower."

Neilson added his growing support includes "some influential" people from Los Angeles, and for the immediate discussion, will be focusing solely on the aesthetic concerns of the proposal.

Chris Spitz, vice chairwoman of the Pacific Palisades Community Council and chairwoman of the Land Use Committee, said Monday that the Aug. 2 meeting is open to the public, but will not be a "town hall" style meeting. She added there will be a representative of AT&T present to answer questions, and a representative of Councilmember Rosendahl's office may also be present, but there will only be roughly 20 minutes or so to discuss the cell tower.

"We're going to gather more information and there will be a discussion," she said.

Reached Monday, Hollie Villegas, wireless department manager for Cable Engineering Services, said the cell tower proposal aims to facilitate a nearby existing cell tower site up the street so there's balance. She noted they are aware of the concerns about the aesthetics.