Summary
This document consists of written public comments submitted to the Leelanau Township Planning Commission ahead of its October 24, 2024 meeting, all addressing a proposed cell phone tower application in the northern portion of the township. All four submitted letters expressed support for the tower, citing poor or absent cell coverage and safety concerns. No votes or commission decisions are recorded in this document.
Public Comments
Anne Anderson, a year-round resident near Christmas Cove, wrote that she has no cell service at her home even in winter and supports building a tower in the area.
Lauren Thomas-Kincaid (Lauren Kincaid), a soon-to-be full-time Northport resident, said her family's Verizon service frequently drops to "SOS" mode with no calls possible, and coverage is inconsistent, including no service at Peterson Park. She called poor service a hindrance to remote work, an inconvenience, and a safety concern, and supported the county's tower permit application.
Richard K. Foster wrote that reliable cell service is important for convenience and safety and urged the commission to approve the county's permit request, acknowledging the tower may be "aesthetically inconvenient."
Marcia Boynton of Northport urged the commission to move forward immediately, arguing that community benefit should outweigh nearby homeowners' concerns about changed views. She specifically referenced Christmas Cove, Cathead Bay, and Leelanau State Park as high-use recreational areas lacking service, warning of risks in emergencies such as swimming, snowmobile, or trail accidents. She stated the project "has already been too long delayed" and asked the commission to expedite full cellular coverage in remote areas of the township.
No commission responses to these comments are included in the document.
Infrastructure Projects
The sole infrastructure matter discussed is a proposed telecommunications/cell tower application submitted by the county for the northern portion of Leelanau Township, intended to address poor or absent cell coverage in areas including Christmas Cove, Peterson Park, Cathead Bay, and Leelanau State Park. All four public comments in this document support approval of the permit. No commission decision, vote, or next steps are recorded in this document.
Action Items
- Commission to consider the county's pending cell tower permit application for the northern township area (no decision recorded in this document).