Politics & Government

City Told It Needs Mitigation Plan, Federal Approval To Allow Cell Phone Tower In Pinole Valley Park

Pinole officials must also come up with plan to make the now-closed fire station "compliant" with park use

If a cell phone tower is going to be built in Pinole Valley Park, it's going to need approval from federal officials.

That's what Pinole city leaders were told this week by a California state parks representative.

Cristelle Taillon, a project officer with the state parks' grants and local services, said she informed Pinole officials a cell phone tower cannot be built in the park unless the city comes up with a mitigation plan that is approved by the National Park Service.

Taillon also told Pinole officials the now-closed fire station on park land is "not compliant" and they must mitigate its impacts or convert the facility for park use.

Taillon said the restrictions are in place because Pinole accepted federal funds in the 1970s to help purchase the land for Pinole Valley Park.

She added she will put a deed restriction on the land, so there is no confusion in the future.

Pinole City Manager Belinda Espinosa told Patch on Friday that city officials are "conducting due diligence" on the issue and wouldn't have any comment.

The 85-foot cell phone tower was proposed by Verizon Wireless as a way to improve mobile communication service in the region.

In June, the Pinole City Council voted 4-1 to reject Verizon's request. However, the telecommunications company threatened to sue because it had signed a lease with Espinosa in January.

In July, two council members switched their vote and the tower was approved 3-2.

A group of residents continued to protest the decision.

There was a workshop on the issue held in City Hall in early September. A week later, there was a special council meeting held to answer citizens' questions on the tower.

One of the residents, Sal Spataro, warned the council there were restrictions on Pinole Valley Park because of the federal funds and the tower project couldn't go forward.

Spataro contacted state park officials. Taillon will now act as a liaison between the city and federal park officials.


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