Pocono News Section

Jessup Cell Phone Towers To Come Down

Jessup Cell Phone Towers To Come Down - Monday, February 25, 2008 at 11:09PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Monday, Feb 25, 2008 @11:09pm EST

JESSUP, LACKAWANNNA COUNTY- It appears dozens of Jessup homeowners can declare victory. Monday night, zoning officials in the borough announced Sprint-Nextel is ditching a plan to keep cell towers perched on top of a LaSalle Academy school building.

"This is the day I was waiting for," Joe Kazsuba said. Kazsuba's March 2007 complaint triggered work-stop and cease-and-desist orders. He and his wife, Vera told WBRE News exclusively, "It goes to show you we can win and next time someone wants to come into this town, maybe they'll think twice about doing what they (Sprint-Nextel) did." Cell phone giant Sprint-Nextel has not admitted any fault in the ongoing zoning dispute.

Neighbors believe the cell phone towers pose health risks to the community and the school. Nextel has been unable to power the antennas because of the work-stop order. A community activist group known as the Jessup Area Neighborhood Alliance (JANA) stirred a wave of support to have the towers removed.

The cell phone carrier has until August 15 to strip the antennas from the school. Some believe that's too long. "The equipment should be removed. It's been there long enough. I don't know why it takes five and a half months," Mary Durdach said.

Representatives from Sprint-Nextel were not at the meeting.