Canton Township Church Abandons Plan for Cell Tower

CANTON TOWNSHIP, MI – You can fight city — or, in this case, township — hall.

Abundant Life Church of God has abandoned its plan to build a 120-foot cellphone tower behind the Abundant Life Church in Canton Township after residents complainted it could hurt property values, intrude on wetlands, create an eyesore and potentially pose health hazards.

Related

• Residents Oppose Verizon Cellphone Tower Near Church

Canton Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy told The Detroit News that Dan Smitherman, the pastor of the church, informed township officials that the church wouldn’t lease the land to Verizon.

Smitherman reportedly reversed his position after thought, prayer and counsel. “I soon realized it wasn’t worth damaging the relationship with a neighborhood and city that supports us,” he said..

Verizon wanted to erect the tower to close a service gap near Hannan and Palmer. In July, the township’s Board of Trustees denied a proposal by the cellphone service provider to build a tower on township-owned property on the east side of Fellows Creek Golf Course because residents opposed it.