Ocean City Residents Fight Back Against 125-Foot Verizon Cell Tower Plan
Ocean City is under fire as neighbors flood City Council Chambers demanding a halt to a controversial 125-foot Verizon cell tower slated for 3308 Bay Avenue near 33rd Street. The hearing, held on Thursday, April 23, saw intense opposition from residents worried about health, property values, and neighborhood safety.
Planned by Verizon Wireless, the towering monopole would stand among the city’s tallest structures—at 115 feet plus a 10-foot lightning rod—just blocks from Ocean City Municipal Airport. Many locals, some of whom are pilots, voiced concern that the tower could interfere with flight paths for small aircraft.
Community Concerns Collision With Federal Law and City Limits
Mayor Jay Gillian acknowledged the strong community pushback but admitted the city’s hands might be tied due to federal laws protecting telecommunications deployment. “Verizon is a monster,” Gillian said, emphasizing the company’s legal strength under the federal Telecommunications Act and pointing out that many complaining residents rely on cell phones themselves.
The City Council, although displeased with the Bay Avenue site, concluded it was the least problematic among multiple locations—other options were blocked by environmental concerns, protected wetlands, or proximity to residential neighborhoods.
Earlier proposals to locate the tower on the Compass Building at 34th Street and Haven Avenue, set at roughly a second-floor bedroom height, were met with fierce neighborhood opposition due to perceived health risks from electromagnetic fields. That plan was scrapped after the city passed a new ordinance restricting cell towers to city-owned properties only.
Residents Demand Alternatives and Fear Neighborhood Impact
Voices at the City Council meeting included parents fearing for their children’s health and property owners warning of plunging property values. One long-time resident lamented escalating unrest in the area, citing “affordable housing” projects and condemned buildings as already transforming the formerly quiet neighborhood.
Several neighbors also criticized a lack of direct notice before the Planning Board’s approval earlier this month. City attorney Dottie McCrosson countered that Verizon met all legal notification requirements, as no variance was requested.
The Planning Board heard expert testimony from Verizon representatives assuring the tower’s electromagnetic fields are safe and emphasizing the critical need to improve cellular service for public safety. Paul Ricci, one of Verizon’s witnesses, highlighted that 80% of all 911 calls come through wireless devices, stressing robust service is vital in coastal communities.
What’s Next for the Tower and the Community?
The proposed tower still must clear state environmental approval, adding another hurdle amid ongoing disputes. Mayor Gillian promised to “try one more thing” for neighborhood relief but set expectations that Verizon’s legal rights make outright denial unlikely.
With Ocean City’s May non-partisan election approaching, the tower controversy has heightened political tensions as Mayor Gillian faces challengers who were present at the council meeting and also fielding community pressure.
For now, the debate leaves residents and city leaders locked in a standoff over balancing technology infrastructure needs with neighborhood integrity and safety concerns.
Verizon did not respond to requests for comment. The controversy in Ocean City reflects a growing national challenge as communities nationwide struggle with where to site increasingly necessary telecommunications towers.
“There’s got to be coverage. They will be allowed to put this somewhere… It’s the lesser of several evils,” said City Attorney Dottie McCrosson.
Contact reporter Bill Barlow at 609-886-8600, ext. 129, or [email protected] for more updates.
