By Cheryl Skinner

A small grassroots effort that took root after one New Territory resident questioned a two-year proposal to lease property to T-Mobile for the erection of a 120 foot cell tower has taken root and spread like wildfire. Hundreds of New Territory residents are sending in letters and e-mails protesting the plan and some are creating “stop the T-Mobile” websites to spread the word. In addition late last week their neighbors in the adjoining Telfair community started a similar movement there.

The meeting of the New Territory Residential Community Association will be held on March 15. Initially that was the planned meeting time but for a little over a week there was speculation the meeting date would be changed due to Spring Break. Finally,late last week residents say board members confirmed the regular meeting would be held as scheduled and no change would be forthcoming.

Two weeks ago the board met to discuss routine items. Among those items was the plan to approve the agreement with T-Mobile to put the tower, which residents say is equivalent to a 12 story building, on a piece of maintenance property belonging to the subdivision.

Jagdish Chandnani, a New Territory homeowner, said he happened to notice a mention on the routine agenda in regards to the tower. Curious, since this was the first he had heard of the plan, he did some research and learned the proposal with the cell company had been on the table since 2006.

Chandnani planted a seed and started contacting neighbors and friends, who, in turn, contacted other neighbors and friends. After the article on the grassroots effort appeared last week in this publication, other media outlets began contacting Chandnani for information.

Chandnani said the reactions have been amazing and at least 95% of those contacted are against the plan to enter into an agreement with T-Mobile. Concerns about health issues, and fear the tower will be an unsightly addition to the otherwise pristine community and greatly reduce property values.

And, finally, residents now question whether the financial boost the homeowner’s association will get from the agreement, which is $1,500 per month for the basic tower and satellite, is probably not enough to cover litigation that could be forthcoming. Residents in Telfair say a lawsuit might be the only way the community can maintain control of their safety and property values should the agreement be approved. The residents are spreading the word and have the same fears their neighbors in New Territory are dealing with. While that is only speculation, Telfair residents say they will go to the commissioner and Fort Bend County for help in stopping the plan and will also be contacting state representatives and authorities in Austin.

According to the pending agreement, T-Mobile would increase payment amounts to the community as they allowed more satellites to link onto the tower. Residents say this is a paltry amount and each satellite will increase the unsightliness and any possible health risks.

And, after meeting with Telfair residents, both communities feel the T-Mobile plan is aimed at providing the Telfair community with better coverage. However, because the Sugar Land Airport oversees tower placement in proximity to the airport because of the landing approach safety, no towers can be placed in Telfair, residents said.

New Territory is not in the city of Sugar Land, so the city has no governing control of property in the subdivision. The federal government would have some say so in regards to any placement of towers that would impact the flight pattern and would take a close look at the plan if it is approved, authorities have said.

“At this time this news is only exposed to a few of us, but we are taking steps to bring awareness to hundreds of other Telfair residents in the next a few days. We will contact Telfair commissioner to see if he could do anything about it. If necessary, we would conduct a door-to-door campaign to get signature support from our fellow neighbors here, and send out our voices of concern to Texas Senator’s office and Fort Bend County Office,” he said.

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