T-Mobile denied new site at Sonoma High

The City of Sonoma Planning Commission at its meeting Thursday evening denied a use permit application from T-Mobile for a new 70-foot tall pole in the faculty parking lot at Sonoma Valley High School. The pole was to support six antennas for mobile phone communications, three at the top and a second set of three about 12 feet lower.
Residents from two houses on Denmark Street expressed concerns about the height and color of the pole, not wanting to see it from their homes. Commission Chairman Ray Gallian felt that the project was “reasonable with minimal intrusion.” His was the lone vote in support.
Among the four commissioners voting to deny the project, Matt Howarth said that he did not want to set a precedent with this “right off the shelf 70-foot pole,” and Gary Edwards was concerned that we may become a “town of poles.” Tom Anderson said, “It’s back to the drawing board. They [T-Mobile] need to get out their slide rule.”
Following the denial, T-Mobile’s representative Scott Sutherland, from Strategic Real Estate Services, told The Sun that he hopes to work with the residents to develop an acceptable design for that location. He said the high school site was selected because of its central location and the presence of tall trees on campus already.