Scranton's Hill Neighborhood Association on Wednesday discussed strategies for opposing Sprint's plan to reinstall six cellphone antennas atop a 10-story condominium building at 550 Clay Ave.

The zoning board is scheduled on June 8 at City Hall to hear the proposal by Sprint and Plaza 550 Condominium Association that owns the building.

There used to be several cell antennas on the building several years ago, but a lease expired and that use ended. Sprint wants to replace the former wireless telecommunications facility with six new antennas and needs new zoning approval because the cell equipment is not allowed in a residential area.

After Sprint's proposal surfaced several months ago, the neighborhood group went on record against it. Sprint pulled back and regrouped. Now, a public notice in Wednesday's edition of The Times-Tribune of the June 8 zoning hearing says Sprint and the condo group seek an appeal of the zoning officer's denial of a permit for the antennas, or the granting of a "special exception" allowing the antennas.

During the neighborhood group meeting in the basement of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, more than 30 HNA members geared up for the zoning hearing. Most expressed concerns, but a few people who attended voiced support for the cell proposal.

Some residents who live in and near the building, as well as the neighborhood group, don't want cell antennas to return. They believe the antennas pose a health risk from radiation and are inappropriate for residential areas. Some also said the condominium association should not get to determine an issue they view as impacting the neighborhood. The neighborhood group also has a petition underway against Sprint's plan.

However, most residents of the 50-unit condo building back the Sprint plan, said condo President Mitzie Levy.

"We want to put something on our building that won't hurt anyone," Ms. Levy told the crowd.

Hill Section residents Renata Meyer and Maria Manzano don't live in the condo building and voiced differing positions. Ms. Meyer opposes the antenna plan, while Ms. Manzano supports it.

"It's going to affect everybody who lives in a certain radius of the building," Ms. Meyer said.

"Do you have a cellphone?" Ms. Manzano asked.

"Yes, I do," Ms. Meyer said.

"Case closed," Ms. Manzano replied.

Ms. Meyer responded that she can turn off her cellphone when not in use, but there would be no turning off cell antennas atop the building.

Councilman Wayne Evans, a former member of the planning commission that years ago wrote the zoning code that prohibits cell towers in residential areas, told opponents that, to prevail, they should cite at the zoning hearing reasons that would survive a potential court appeal. Those include that the city does not allow cell antennas in residential areas and if allowed by the zoning board, the antennas could hurt property values.

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jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter