Golden acquisition of historic Lookout Mountain parkland

Lake Cedar Group, a local company representing media corporation owners of Denver TV channels 4, 7, 9, and 20, wants to build a “Supertower” for digital antennas and profit from renting space for four more stations, as well as limitless other radio frequency devices.

The additional electromagnetic RF would impact 50,000 residents and businesses already tolerating interference with electronic devices. The battle between corporate profit seeking and citizen health, safety and welfare began in 1996 when the TelCom Act, written by broadcast-wireless-electronics, was adopted by Congress.

At right: Super Community T-shirt created by local citizens.

Citizens have volunteered hundreds of hours against the masters of SPIN that control the broadcast airwaves. After County Commissioners said NO in 1999, they said YES in 2002. Citizens and the City of Golden filed litigation for reversal; the judge sent the decision back to County Commissioners who said YES again. The judge then sent it back to the new County Commissioners who said NO. Golden chose to utilize its Home Rule powers to protect citizens by acquiring the historic parkland proposed for the Supertower.

Lake Cedar Group consultants developed an advertising campaign of 30-second TV ads for two months, conducted a “push poll,” and persuasive mass mailings. LCG compares Golden’s “taking” of historic parkland, surrounded by $50 million preservation of the Mountain Backdrop, the same as condemning family homes for a Walmart.

“The consolidation of four towers is not necessary. Non-conforming land use rules require the existing towers to be removed when analog TV is no longer broadcast,” said Golden public information officer Sabrina Henderson. “The City offered $1.7 million for the property, more than the appraised value.”

After an LCG mass mailing, Golden City Council published a “special edition” to the monthly newsletter Golden Informer be mailed to all Golden city addresses. (Click for PDF of document.) It includes history of a resort planned at the east summit of Lookout Mountain in 1890 and Jefferson County Open Space preservation of land surrounding the site as a contribution to the entire metro area.

“Takings” law based on court decisions from U.S. to Colorado Supreme Courts support Golden. Recent court decisions, reversing the Mt. Morrison tower approval and returning the Supertower for County Commissioners to consider “all of the record, including alternative sites,” do not favor the media corporations, which could have been broadcasting digital from Squaw Mountain as early as 1996. For more information, search for “Lookout Mountain Tower” at www.ci.golden.co.us

—Carole Lomond

For more information, see Antenna Tower Update.