Reston's Newest Battleground: The Crossfield Cell Tower

RESTON, VA — The proposal to build a 138-foot-tall cell tower near Crossfield Elementary School in Reston is meeting some stiff opposition from concerned parents in the area, and the issue will be coming up at a Fairfax County Planning Commission planning hearing on Wednesday night.

Milestone Tower Limited Partnership III has filed a plan for review to build a 138-foot-tall telecommunication facility and related ground structures, and is requesting special exception approval to construct the proposed facility on the property of A. Scott Crossfield Elementary School, which is located at 2791 Fox Mill Road, according to documents filed with the commission. The address is listed as Herndon but is within Reston city limits.

The proposal would involve dressing up the cell tower to look like a pine tree.

However, local residents are furious at the proposal and have started a petition that as of Tuesday morning had 579 supporters. Opponents have also created a website detailing their concerns called "Stop the Crossfield Cell Tower."

"This petition has been reopened in response to a new 2016 application to construct a cellular communications tower at Crossfield Elementary School. The 2013 application was withdrawn after the community voiced its opposition," the petition states. "The cell tower proposed for Crossfield Elementary is not needed – a ‘significant gap in coverage’ does not exist in this area, as defined by Federal requirements. Eighty-two (82) towers are active within a 4-mile radius of the site – and the poor cell reception within the school and in nearby homes can be fixed with inexpensive signal boosters."

The petition goes on to state that cell towers lower property values and are an eyesore even when dressed up to look like trees. In addition, opponents raised concern about the risks of cellular radiation to children, especially when it would be built so close to a playground.

Image via Change.org petition