Yucaipa state park supporters aligned against tower

According to the Lazer Broadcasting website, the company owns and operates 18 Spanish language radio stations in 10 California markets, plus two affiliated stations in the Medford, Ore. and Lancaster, CA.

After Harshaw and her Yucaipa friends found out about the proposed project, they formed an organization, "Citizens for Preservation of Rural Living,"(CPRL)to fight back against the proposed project.

As the groups' spokes person, Harshaw said that Lazer Broadcasting wants to build a communications tower 80-feet high that would take up about 40-acres of parkland near an area called Pisgah Peak.

"It will (also) have a 500-gallon fuel tank and parking for maintenance vehicles," Harshaw said. "Their intended broadcasting audience is the Hemet area."

But for Lazer Broadcasting to reach its Hemet audience, Harshaw said the tower must be built high enough to reach 80-percent of that audience. Thus Lazer chose the park and Pisgah Peak because of its elevation.

"It will be a visible eyesore for Yucaipa people, (impact) the rural nature of the park, and be a fire hazard," she said, adding that if this project goes through, the Lazer tower will be the second one constructed in the park.

Support to stop the tower has grown tremendously, she said. "We've got over 750 signatures on our petition, and we average about one new signature per hour on our website.

The tower is not something the City of Yucaipa wants in the park either, said Mayor Dick Riddell. "The city has strongly objected to it," Riddell said, adding that he will attend a San Bernardino County Planning Commission meeting on Thursday to speak against Lazer's project.

Third District Supervisor, Dennis Hansberger, of the San Bernardino County Board of Superivisors said he is aware of the matter, but he hasn't seen all the facts.

"It's for the planning commission to decide," Hansberger said. "It is a visual issue. I hope the planning commission gets it resolved appropriately. Most of the time they get it right." But he added that it is a matter that can be appealed to the board of supervisors.

Harshaw said that members the CPRL group will also be attending the meeting to make their voices heard.

"This is a state park meant for recreational use," Harshaw said. "We want to protect it. If they build this (tower) how many more will want to build there?"

The San Bernardino Planning Commission meeting takes place on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. at 385 No. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino. Harshaw said that speakers will be able to voice their opinions.

To learn more visit Citizens For Preservation of Rural Living website at www.stopthetowernow.org. Or call Harshaw at (951) 786-7449.

(Calls were placed to Lazer Broadcasting in San Bernardino but had not been returned by deadline.)