OPINION — Fountain Hills is being asked to accept a change that will affect every resident and every neighborhood. Allowing small cell infrastructure in residential areas is not a small decision. It carries lasting consequences for our entire town.
1. Property values will be impacted. Homes near visible cell installations can become harder to sell and may lose up to 20 percent in value, and the effect spreads beyond one property. If an antenna is visible from a yard or window, neighboring homes are also affected.
Furthermore, residents face increased insurance rates or even cancellation of policies due to increased risk of property damage and physical injury from structural failure. These impacts fall entirely on homeowners, without compensation or the ability to sue the telecom companies.
