From:
To: City Council
Subject: public comment re: proposed cell tower expansion Date: Friday, September 11, 2026 1:04:01 PM
I am a resident of the neighborhood directly affected by the proposed cell tower expansion, and I am deeply concerned about what the continued presence and expansion of cell towers will mean for our downtown.
The existing 99-foot cell tower at City Hall is already a significant visual intrusion in the heart of Sebastopol. More importantly, its location places serious constraints on the future expansion and improvement of City Hall, the Library, and the Senior Center—three essential community resources that should be planned and protected with Sebastopol’s long-term needs in mind.
This is personal for me. I am a frequent patron of our Library, and my parents, who also live in Sebastopol, regularly use both the Library and the Senior Center. These are not abstract public facilities—they are places that my family and our neighbors depend on. We should not allow a telecommunications lease to compromise the future flexibility, value, or usability of these important community spaces.
The lease payments from Crown Castle represent only a small financial benefit when weighed against the potential loss in property value, planning flexibility, and future opportunities for these key downtown properties. A short-term revenue stream should not dictate the long-term future of the center of our community.
Sebastopol deserves thoughtful planning that puts residents and our shared public spaces first.
The City Hall cell tower is already an unfortunate visual and planning obstacle in the heart of downtown. Expanding this use would only compound the problem.
I urge the City to consider the long-term interests of Sebastopol residents—and the future of our Library, Senior Center, and City Hall—before allowing further cell tower expansion in this location.
Sincerely,
Kyra Auerbach
Sebastopol