If Scarborough residents aren’t angry or concerned about the proposed change to allow cellphone transmission towers in virtually all of Scarborough, then you haven’t been paying close enough attention. A 150-foot tower could be erected within 100 feet of your home, causing you to lose 10-20 percent of its value, or destroy a beautiful view shed. Or worse, a tower that emits a class 2B carcinogen according to the World Health Organization could be allowed on your child’s school or playground increasing the risk of adverse health effects and cancer. This decision could be made this week.

Our Comprehensive Plan was created to guide our leadership to make decisions that are in the best interest of the health and welfare of its citizens. Our council is elected to uphold the Comprehensive Plan as was determined by the court (remember the Great American Neighborhood?) The plan says nothing about putting commercial uses in residential zones, particularly uses that put our health and property values at risk.

I hope the residents will join me on July 16 or before in communicating that we are not willing to risk our property values, or health to get better cellphone reception. There are better and safer ways to get this done than to use the blanketed approach and allow towers everywhere including residential zones.

Suzanne A. Foley-Ferguson

Scarborough