St. Peters Votes Down 90-foot Cell Phone Tower on Jungermann

An application for a permit to build a 90-foot stealth communications tower on Jungermann Road in St. Peters failed to get enough support from St. Peters Aldermen Thursday. 

Residents raised concerns about the placement of the tower, which was to be built in the parking lot of Anthony’s Produce, 701 Jungermann Road, north of Willott Road. 

Neighbors worried about the site's proximity to a childcare center and the impact of the electromagnetic field from the tower on the health of children and the elderly. Discovery Kids, Inc. is next to the site and First Class Christian Childcare is across Jungermann. 

The vote failed to pass with three members of the Board of Aldermen voting in favor, three voting against and two members absent. 

Shirley Michaels, 81, lives behind Anthony's Produce and gathered 90 signatures for a petition against the tower. 

"You cannot hide a 90-foot cell tower," she said. "Ten feet from my property line is beyond reason." 

Eric Martin, a representative for St. Charles Tower, said the tower is needed to fill in gaps in coverage for AT&T. He said this location was chosen because the tower will blend into the tree line in the area. The tower will be painted brown to look like a tree and will have faux branches designed to camouflage the antennas.

Martin added that the health concerns have been studied by the cellular industry and are unsubstantiated. He referenced the 1996 Federal Communications Act which prevents local governments from denying cell towers because of health concerns. 

In July, Gov. Jay Nixon signed HB 331 which limits the ability of local municipalities to regulate locations of cell towers. The legislation was opposed by the Missouri Municipal League and supported by AT&T. The bill takes effect Aug. 28.

"They have stripped the rights of the cities across the state," Mayor Len Pagano said. 

Pagano told residents that St. Charles Tower may come back to the city again with a proposal.