More questions surround Palm-Aire tower proposal

PALM-AIRE — Residents of Palm-Aire again are confused about an application by Vertex Development to construct a telecommunications tower in the middle of their community.

Despite previous assurances that the application would go to public hearing without being considered complete and without the support of staff, now both statements are in question.

County planning staff on Oct. 29 sent Vertex a completeness review letter, and a preliminary staff report now shows county planning staff may be supporting the application with stipulations, as evidenced in an un-reviewed draft staff report.

“We’re kind of scratching our heads,” said Deborah Chapman, founder of Palm-Aire homeowners Against the Tower. “Our question (was) what happened? Nobody (from the county) answered those e-mails or those calls. We were completely in the dark about why (it had changed).”

Vertex submitted a special permit application for a 150-foot cell tower in Palm-Aire last fall, and residents have been fighting the proposal since.

On Sept. 15, hazard and mitigation planner Sharon Tarman had said the application to construct a tower at 5625 Whitfield Ave. did not address all the county’s concerns and more information was needed — an opinion shared by an outside telecommunications tower consultant. Less than a week later, residents were told the application’s status had changed to “complete,” although it had not.

On Nov. 1, residents learned county staff had sent a completeness review letter to Vertex. Then, last week, they learned Tarman planned to recommend approval of the application.

Manatee County Planning Director John Osborne said Vertex has been working with county staff and the county’s telecommunications consultant to resolve remaining issues with the application over the last two months. Those efforts resulted in the application’s status change.

Chapman said Palm-Aire residents have been “bombarding” county officials with e-mails and phone calls about the issue, seeking clarification, questioning the changes and airing their concerns.

An automated e-mail response said Tarman was out of the office until Tuesday, after The East County Observer had gone to press.

Tarman’s supervisor, Doug Means, said the application has indeed been deemed complete but that a recommendation by staff for approval is still to be determined, as he, Osborne and the county attorney’s office still have to review the document.

“There have been numerous e-mails with comments, speculation and accusations surrounding the review of the Palm Aire cell tower application,” said Means, development services division manager. “Although there is a draft circulating, it is important to recognize that no formal position has been taken by the county, nor any final recommendation for approval or denial from county staff.”

Means said the application’s public hearing before a hearing officer is still scheduled for 9 a.m., Dec. 15. A final version of the staff report will be available prior to that meeting, he said.

Chapman said residents still do not believe Vertex’s proposal meets specific criteria within the county’s land development code or its intent.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].