Petition Against Tower Has Nearly 400 Over 500 Signatures
By Tyler Faurot / Point Loma – OB Monthly SDU-T / July 29, 2025
A project that seeks to install a 30-foot cell tower in Point Loma’s Collier Park is drawing community opposition as it goes through the city of San Diego’s review process.
The city Development Services Department sent a notice of application dated July 2 to nearby tenants and homeowners.
According to the notice, the project proposed by AT&T would install a 30-foot-tall “faux mono-eucalyptus” tree that would house 12 antennas and nine remote radio units, or transceivers. The plan also calls for a 395-square-foot ground-mounted equipment enclosure surrounded by landscaping and screening, as well as a 30-kilowatt generator, cables and protective fencing.
Scott McCaskill, chairman of the Advocacy Committee for the Ocean Beach Community Foundation, said community consensus seems to be against the project, largely because of its proposed site in Collier Park at 2351 Soto St., near the eastern boundary of Ocean Beach. The park’s neighbors include the Ocean Beach Community Garden, Greencliff Apartments and dozens of other homes.
“There is a petition on Change.org that has [nearly 400] signatures so far,” McCaskill noted. “There have been numerous posts on social media about it, and if you go out to the park, they have a couple notices posted in the park with some graffiti of colorful language in opposition to the proposal.”
The online petition was launched July 5, just three days after the notice of application was distributed by the Development Services Department.
The petition cites “visual blight,” loss of public space, risk to nearby property values and concerns about health and safety as the primary reasons for opposing the project.
“Although research is ongoing, many residents are understandably concerned about the proximity of high-frequency antennas to homes, children and pets,” the petition states.
Federal law prohibits local governments from regulating the placement, construction and modification of wireless service facilities on the basis of environmental concerns about radio frequency (RF) emissions if the facilities comply with Federal Communications Commission regulations for those emissions.
Wireless equipment produces electromagnetic fields, or EMFs, with varying frequencies. New-generation 5G wireless has a higher frequency than previous generations, enabling it to carry more information at greater speed.
EMFs from cellphones, computers, power lines and microwaves consist of non-ionizing, low-level radiation. Ionizing EMFs, such as from sunlight and X-rays, have much higher-level radiation.
The highest 5G frequency ranges from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz, where data transfer speed is greatest.
Research published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology said it found “no confirmed evidence that low-level RF fields … such as those used by the 5G network are hazardous to human health.”
On the other hand, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences noted that “concerns persist about possible connections between EMF and adverse health effects.”
The institute said additional research is needed, though it recommended “continued education on practical ways to reduce exposures to EMFs.”
The issue of whether the project would “mar the natural and open look” of the neighborhood, as opponents contend, could be a continuing subject of discussion in coming months.
The Peninsula Community Planning Board, a group that advises the city on land-use issues in the area, can provide input on questions of aesthetics and community impact.
“In general, [cell tower] contractors do a pretty good job with the aesthetics,” said PCPB Chairman Eric Law. “Most of the issues arise from community impact. For instance, locating a faux tree … in a nature preserve might seem like a good idea to the contractor, but [not] the community.”
Because this project is being reviewed discretionally, public input through community planning groups is taken into account.
Neighbors looking for an opportunity to share their feedback may have to wait awhile. The project was initially slated for a presentation to the Peninsula Community Planning Board in July, but the presenters rescheduled.
“The applicant withdrew it from [the] meeting to be better prepared, likely when they found out about the public opposition,” Law said. “Since the board doesn’t meet in August, we won’t see the project until September.”
The applicant named for the project is Harold Thomas Jr., a team lead for MD7, a telecommunications consulting firm.
Thomas did not respond to requests for comment. Brian Mackey, a site acquisition manager for MD7, said the company does not comment about upcoming projects.
Chris Collins, a communications manager for AT&T, said he had “nothing to announce at this time” and that AT&T “typically [does not] discuss future plans.”
Nilia Safi, a telecommunications project manager for the Development Services Department, said that once all outstanding comments have been addressed, the project will be scheduled for a public hearing by the city Planning Commission.
A notice of that hearing will be mailed to nearby residents and property owners, Safi said.
McCaskill said the Ocean Beach Community Foundation plans to discuss the project at its meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14, when “people can either air their grievances or show support if they want to.”
The meeting is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. at Ocean Beach Elementary School, 4741 Santa Monica Ave.
“Usually at our meetings we have some representatives from [City Councilwoman] Jen Campbell’s office or Mayor [Todd] Gloria’s office,” McCaskill said. “It’s a good opportunity to talk directly to people with an ear of the decision-makers.”
AT&T in February withdrew a similar application to install wireless communications equipment in La Jolla after vocal opposition by residents there.
AT&T had submitted plans to the city to install a 30-foot cell tower and nine antennas on six smaller mounts along the La Jolla Bike Path to “enhance broadband connectivity and capacity in the area for emergency service and wireless customers.”
The company did not provide a reason for the withdrawal, but residents voiced concerns similar to those of opponents of the Collier Park proposal.
If you haven’t signed this petition against a cell tower in Collier Park, please do so. As of latest count, there’s 511 signatures.
I tried to attend this meeting tonight and, inadvertently learned that the cell tower project was cancelled.
I thought the meeting was at the Rec Center but when I arrived, the meeting room was locked. A helpful staff member said a couple of people had been there earlier and said something about a meeting being cancelled.
I double-checked the meeting information and realized it said OB Elementary. I wandered down to the entrance closest to Sunset Cliffs on Santa Monica. The doors were open and a man was standing on the steps. I inquired about the meeting and he said go in the open door to the right and I discovered it was a meeting of the newly named OB Town Council, not the cell tower meeting.
Back outside talking to the guy on the steps and he said he heard something about the project being cancelled. Came home and checked the project on the city’s site and it showed it was cancelled on August 5. Someone knew for the last nine days and did not get the word out.
Good news for everyone who opposed this project. It really looks as if the public outcry was heard on this one. Not by the city, of course, but probably AT&T.
Wow, thanks Geoff for the update. Good news however which we would not have known except for you showing up. At last count, there were 520 “signatures” on the petition.
We here in AZ. make the cell towers look like palm trees. The first time I saw one I had to do a double take because I thought it was a tall palm tree. The footprint they take up is very small. And screening they put around the chain link fence helps with looks. I know one homeowner who was disappointed that he didn’t get a cell tower on his property because of the rent he would of gotten. As for the EMF radiation it reminds me of the “high tension power line’ debates of 40 years ago .What happened to that ? It’s not going to stop as more and more people and businesses and cities depend on cell towers. I’m not a big fan of cell towers but they are a fact of life and Tesla ( the scientist) is dead. I hope to see a cell tower that looks like a eucalyptus tree if done right.
Mayor Gloria responded to the petition and sent this message:
“Todd Gloria, San Diego City Mayor, Sep 8, 2025
“Thank you for contacting the Office of Mayor Todd Gloria regarding the proposed cell tower at Collier Park. AT&T is longer proceeding with this project and has canceled their permits with the City’s Development Services Department. Again, thank you for reaching out. “