GARDEN GROVE : Antenna Approved for Cellular Phones

The City Council brushed aside fears of residents this week and approved plans by Los Angeles Cellular Telephone Co. to install a 45-foot cellular telephone antenna and switching station in the parking lot of St. Olaf Lutheran Church.

Company officials said the facility is badly needed to boost the power for phone calls from cars and other mobile sources in the area.

But Phyllis Mugridge, a neighbor of the residential community that surrounds the 9th Street church, warned officials that not enough is known about possible health dangers from emissions and that microwaves could interfere with heart pacemakers and destroy computer files.

Another resident, Patti Catlin, said she fears for the health of her daughter, who attends St. Olaf Preschool. The school’s grass play area is only 30 feet from the tower, Catlin said.

Mayor W.E. (Walt) Donovan said, however, that the antenna “is a necessary thing for the area.” He could see no reason why a health issue should surface, he added.

Linda C. Paul, civil coordinator for L.A. Cellular, said the tower site at Lampson Avenue and 9th Street is “the optimum” location to strengthen cellular telephone calls that at times are marked by interference, static or “cross-talk” in the area.

She said the radio-wave transmissions are of high frequency but with low power and that “thousands of studies show there are no health risks.” The tower, which may begin functioning in about a month, is expected to operate at about 30 watts, about the same level that police radios use, an official said. L.A. Cellular has agreed to a five-year lease with St. Olaf, paying the church $1,000 a month for the use of its parking lot for the tower and a small building to house antenna assembly equipment, company officials said.

St. Olaf’s pastor, Murray Finck, said the church plans to use the money to expand its ministry into the community.

The Garden Grove zoning administrator approved a conditional use permit for the antenna structure on Jan. 29. But an appeal was filed, and the Planning Commission overturned approval, citing concerns that the tower might interfere with commercial radio and police communications, pose health dangers and affect nearby property values.

St. Olaf then appealed, sending the matter to the City Council.