New T-Mobile Antenna to Double as Flagpole

Castro Valley will soon have a brand-new U.S. flagpole—and for some citizens, better cell phone reception—thanks to a narrow vote by (MAC) members.

The flagpole in question—a large 40-foot pole—will be placed at the on Redwood Road.

The pole, however, is no ordinary flagpole. It’s actually an antenna.

The new pole will be aluminum, like most modern flagpoles, and at its top will billow a large, proud U.S. flag.

But inside it will be filled with wires and metal that will allow cell phone users to make and receive calls and use their data plans.

The flagpole is actually a “wireless telecommunication facility” commissioned by T-Mobile for its local customers.

The large antenna will be hidden inside the pole so it looks less like, well, an antenna.

One of the issues presented to the Municipal Advisory Committee at its Monday meeting was that there is already a U.S. flagpole at the senior center.

Some 20 citizens showed up to discuss this and other issues they had with the new pole.

One of the attendees was Gary Kerr, son of James Kerr—the man who donated the original flagpole that still stands at the senior center.

Gary’s said his father James—whose mother and father moved to Castro Valley in 1926 as chicken farmers—went to San Jose State and Stanford and was in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Saipan. When he came back to the States, he taught at the old Castro Valley Elementary School and donated much of his time and money to the city. James apparently passed away last year.

Gary said his father would be OK with anything that benefitted the city and the citizens, including a cell phone antenna. Gary did say, however, that he would like to see his father’s flagpole remain next to the new flagpole as a tribute to his father’s generosity.

T-Mobile representative Chris Coons said that keeping the existing pole was no problem and was part of the current plan.

A few residents expressed fear of radio waves and their potential toxicity after long-term exposure.

MAC Chair Cheryl Miraglia confirmed with staff that, according to the FCC, there is no medical evidence of health detriments for cell phone antennas as long as they conform to FCC standards, as this antenna must.

Some residents said they would rather the pole be behind the building or somewhere else rather than in front, where they say two flagpoles would look awkward.

Larry Lepore, park superintendent for the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, is liaison for the senior center to T-Mobile. He said that other locations were considered, but they would either consume parking spaces or other existing facilities or they wouldn’t meet the technical needs for the antenna to function optimally.

Still some other residents and  MAC member Dave Sadoff said they would rather see the antennae someplace else on the property or hidden as a faux tree—as is common with some antennas—rather than in front next to the existing flag pole.

Part of the problem they see with the antenna is its size and disproportionate dimensions. Although plenty of flagpoles are much taller than the 40-foot one planned for the senior center—others can be 80 feet or higher—regular 40-foot poles are 7 or 8 inches in diameter at the base of the pole.

Because of the equipment hidden inside, this one will be more than twice  as wide, with an 18-inch diameter.

Some residents also complained that they weren’t notified of the upcoming construction. Lapore said that not only were notices sent out in the required 500-foot radius of the project, but two public meetings were held last year for the public to weigh in on the new antenna.

In the end, the proposal passed by a very close vote.

Sheila Cunha, Marc Crawford and Cheryl Miraglia voted for the antenna as proposed; John Ryzanovych and Dave Sadoff opposed; and Matt Turner abstained.

MAC only needs a majority to pass an item, so the proposal was approved with a narrow 3-2-1 vote.

The only stipulations on the construction of the antenna were that T-Mobile would have to put in symmetrical landscaping on both sides of the senior center's front doors so that the building’s entrance serves as the focal point of the property.