Verizon wants to put cell tower in Iowa City park

IOWA CITY - Facing capacity limits on existing Iowa City cellular towers, Verizon Wireless has applied for the rights to build a tower in one of the city's parks.

The application has led to the creation of an online petition opposing the tower, proposed for construction in Oak Grove Park on the corner of Dodge and Page streets.

According to city documents, Verizon Wireless has applied for a special exception permit for the installation of a 100-foot-tall monopole wireless tower - encompassed in a fenced area that would be more than 2,000-square-feet in size - at 700 Page Street, in the northwest corner of the park. A gravel drive would also be included to provide vehicle access to the tower.

'The site is required to maintain Verizon's network stability,” a letter from Verizon to the city states. 'The site is needed for added capacity and coverage.”

The petition, which started Friday and had 10 signatures by that afternoon, opposes the tower and asks area residents to share their comments.

'This structure would not only take up a significant portion of the already small park but it would irreparably alter its atmosphere,” the online petition states.

The Iowa City Board of Adjustment could take up the matter at their September 9 meeting.