New Allen Tower on Plano TRS

[Russell]

Looks like the new Allen tower will be at 700 E Stacy Rd (roughly Stacy and US75). This location will open a whole new coverage area for the Plano, Allen system.

The cities of Allen and Plano continue to develop a new public safety radio communication system. The next phase, subject to approval by Allen City Council, will be the construction of a communication tower at Stacy Road Pump Station, 700 E. Stacy Ro

 

[SCPD]

Looks like the new Allen tower will be at 700 E Stacy Rd (roughly Stacy and US75). This location will open a whole new coverage area for the Plano, Allen system.

The cities of Allen and Plano continue to develop a new public safety radio communication system. The next phase, subject to approval by Allen City Council, will be the construction of a communication tower at Stacy Road Pump Station, 700 E. Stacy Ro

I remember a long time ago this topic was mentioned in a Thread I believe I might have even stated there was supposed to be a new tower added. I believe VX stated that no such animal would exist.

That will be a great location for those of us up North to be able to finally hear the system. Of course driving this system will have to be attenuated or the FEOL will be stupid.

 

[Russell]

I remember a long time ago this topic was mentioned in a Thread I believe I might have even stated there was supposed to be a new tower added. I believe VX stated that no such animal would exist.

That will be a great location for those of us up North to be able to finally hear the system. Of course driving this system will have to be attenuated or the FEOL will be stupid.

Yes, I recall that discussion, too. At the time the talk was of the water tower on Bethany near US75. The site going before the city council is much further out. I expect an immediate approval by the city council, so we're way past talk at this point. This tower location could easily add Fariview, Lucas, Parker and several others southeastern Collin County locales, so it should get quite interesting. Collin County's system is actually pretty weak in Southern Collin County - I could see other Collin County talkgroups on this system with the addition of this tower.

Russell

 

[Cavscout]

This new tower is for the new P25 system. My recollection is that the discussion of the new tower previously, or "a long time ago" was for the current production system.

I wonder what became of the "switch" idea /\/\ was pitching to make the systems in the county more like a SmartZone system.

 

[SCPD]

This new tower is for the new P25 system. My recollection is that the discussion of the new tower previously, or "a long time ago" was for the current production system.

No it was for the Digital system to come.

Its great that they are doing this. Does anyone have a realistic idea of when the transition to P25 will actually begin?

 

[mikebennett]

Apparently the neighbors don't share the same enthusiasm for this tower being in their back yard. The council voted to delay approval and explore other locations.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/politics/Council-delays-vote-on-controversial-communication-tower-98403144.html

 

[SCPD]

Apparently the neighbors don't share the same enthusiasm for this tower being in their back yard. The council voted to delay approval and explore other locations.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/politics/Council-delays-vote-on-controversial-communication-tower-98403144.html

WOW - next complaint from neighbors will be when Police response is too slow because Allen Citizens rejected the tower in any location. I mean C'mon, they can camouflage it and make it look like a 280 foot tree .... Austin does that a lot.

 

[Russell]

Interesting. The Ridgeview tower in Plano had many similar objections, delays, etc. Yet, the tower is now operational in that location. The Allen tower location was picked on purpose. They could try to move it closer to US75 in the more commercial/retail areas, however, I see this tower going up right where it is.

 

[mominallen]

tower in allen need your help

Hey Guys,
I need your help. Sounds like you are experts on this and I am just a stay home mom. We want this tower for safey for our police and fire departments. However, it will be located less than 200 ft. from many of my neighbors back yard. Plus, as a bonus, I can see it clearly every day from my front yard. The city gave parameters to Motorola of tower must be on city property and look at tower/pump stations. Well this site is what the picked.
I ask for your help. What questions should we ask the city. We want this type of comumication system for public safety, but the city did what was quick and essy. We are concerned for safety, property values, and the ability to sale our home in the future. FYI. They are requesting to zone it 280Ft.
One of you mentioned going closer to 75. Our problem is we can't see the data to know first what the current coverage looked like and how does the coverage change if the tower is moved North, South, East and West.
Well, thanks for hearing me out at least.

 

[mominallen]

Ok, I wrote that at 2 in the morning. There are a few spelling mistakes. essy=easy
Sorry for that. I am truly would appreciate any help/direction you would be willing to offer.

 

[SCPD]

Hey Guys,
I need your help. Sounds like you are experts on this and I am just a stay home mom. We want this tower for safey for our police and fire departments. However, it will be located less than 200 ft. from many of my neighbors back yard. Plus, as a bonus, I can see it clearly every day from my front yard. The city gave parameters to Motorola of tower must be on city property and look at tower/pump stations. Well this site is what the picked.
I ask for your help. What questions should we ask the city. We want this type of comumication system for public safety, but the city did what was quick and essy. We are concerned for safety, property values, and the ability to sale our home in the future. FYI. They are requesting to zone it 280Ft.
One of you mentioned going closer to 75. Our problem is we can't see the data to know first what the current coverage looked like and how does the coverage change if the tower is moved North, South, East and West.
Well, thanks for hearing me out at least.

Their probably using the "proposed" north tower to fill in the gaps between McKinney, Fairview and Allen southwards. 280' really isn't that high for an average radio tower. So this really sound like a Gap Filler site more than anything. Allen alike many cities run Mutual aid response into McKinney and Frisco and the North site will ensure them vital communications where they may have issues now.

A Buddy of mine who works for the City of Allen and is a member (or was) here at RR says they really need this location. The only other possible location would have been in Fairview, and in exchange for putting the tower in Fairview, Fairview was asked to join the system and declined. So, North Allen is still the target. Problem is, if this isn't on City land, the City will have to pay for the site. This might, "MIGHT" provoke a tax increase to YOU home owners.

Another point Employee's of the City of Allen made was that those home owners are already behind a pump station which has more affect of property values than a tower would.

I personally would not have an issue with a tower in MY backyard, but I would rally the HOA to petition the city that if the tower went up, it remained solely dedicated to City Communications and NO Cellular. If this is just a part of a radio system it won't be as much an eyesore as if there were Cellular and everyone else on it also.

However, When you live in a city where Technology is changing and progressing, your going to have this. Its just the price you pay to live in the City. Oh, and we in the country are also slowly being invaded by towers.

To answer the coverage question, you might ask the City of Allen to show this to the citizens. However, this would likely show coverage into areas that the home owner might not agree with. But radio systems like these really need to have overlap.

I'm not an expert on this, just a scanner guy who dabbles in Commercial radio a bit. But, If our County was looking to build a system like the PAWM system, I would vote to allow the tower close to my property. At least I knew my Police/Fire/Services response would improve. Sometimes we just have to take the good with the bad.

 

[Russell]

Coverage in Allen is sorely needed, especially on the north east corner. Two towers providing coverage to Allen reside in Plano, one near Custer Rd at the waste transfer center and one in east Plano near N and 544 at a ground water storage tank site. These sites provide good coverage to south and west Allen but north and east are not covered very well. Signal issues, such as these, commonly cause public safety, and even city employee, safety issues. A police officer may not be able to call for help or may not hear a call for help when coverage is poor. This is particularly true for an officer on foot or a fire fighter battling a fire inside a house or building. The city and the manufacturer may be found liable for damages if adequate coverage is not provided.

You'll also find that most, if not all, public safety towers are located on city property, usually water storage and pump sites, as well as, other service facilities. Ridgeview tower recently constructed at the waste transfer station faced similar opposition. However, public safety outweighs aesthetics, and the facilities themselves are typically perceived as having more of an effect of home values than the towers constructed on them. This is very subjective and the good provided to the city residents far outweighs any perceived effects on home values by homeowners close to such facilites. Ironically, homeowners closer to such facilties get better service and are safer in the long run.

Additionaly, safety and help do not stop at the city limits. Neighboring cities and agencies commonly have each others radio systems programmed into their radios. Many times public safety is provided beyond the city limits. You'll never find a fire fighter who'll won't put out a fire because the house is on the wrong side of a line on a map. A police officer won't stop at an invisible line to provide protection or help to a person in need. Collin County public safety agencies provide exceptional examples of mutual aid in police and fire protection. This is especially true in the cities' border areas. They back each other up every day and every night. A tower in this vicinity will aid everybody in the area. Increases in the safety of the wider area result in increases in the value of all property in the wider area.

 

[mominallen]

thanks for the replies. we are definitely for public safety. however, don't forget that this is a back up to the system in Plano. Also, it is not in place for safety communication for neighborhoods and residents. We have been told (and I am not an expert in this) that the placement of tower in our back yard instead of at Rowlette Tower is to provide better cover for gaps in a specific area in North East Allen. This area at the time is undeveloped and is zoned for commercial property. And, if one of these buildings(if ever built) is on fire or any other building, those risking their lives in the building would be communicating to their command leader outside of the building through the mobile command unit. Per a fire fighter, those brave individuals would never be communicating thru a system off those towers. FYI, word is that Fairview never was asked to be involved or even offered. So now becomes the game of he said, she said. And within 1 mile west off the same road is commercial property for sale in a completely commerical area. we have been told the city is saving over $1million by now only putting up 1 tower. I say, use some of the savings, buy the land, win-win for all. Guess we will now in the next few days what the City Council thinks of the City staff's instructions to show other sites and back up data. thanks again.

 

[VictorXray]

There is a lot of incorrect and misguided information in your post. I don't have the time to correct every sentence, but here are a few: the tower is not a "back up" to Plano, it will be an active site transmitting and receiving public safety radio communications. Only the network controllers at the tower shelter are considered a backup in the event the master controller goes offline. Contrary to what someone told you, all radio comms at every structure fire are handled through the radio system (i.e. towers) NOT simplex by a "mobile command unit", which doesn't even get dispatched by some cities until the 2nd or 3rd alarm. Rural departments and some dense-urban areas may need to use simplex due to poor coverage; however, within our cities, the radio system coverage is sufficient and it is used primarily so the entire event can be watched (emergency activations by specific radio IDs) and recorded start to finish by dispatch. Fairview is not a current user of the Plano radio system, they are on the County system. I am also a homeowner, I am active with our association, and I would have no problem with a public safety tower in my backyard; so be aware not everyone shares your views.

 

[Russell]

I would also like to add that this is not a fill-in tower. The coverage area will be several miles and enhance coverage to most, if not all, of Allen. This is not just Plano's system as it is also owned by Allen. Reducing the cost by sharing the cost. Additionally, being a tax payer and strapped by the current economy I am not interested in any government entity wasting money on commercial property when they have ample space on city owned property. Any money the city spends will certainly be passed on to property owners in the form of higher tax rates or higher property value assessments. If they save that much money then they are doing their job and my tax bills should not go up. Rowlett tower is saturated with antennas and transmitters as are many of the water towers. Coverage beyond the city limits is not limited to Fairview; think all directions not just north. Fairview, as usual, is not even a factor. Allen police officers, city officials and city employees also make trips to McKinney. This tower will certainly help cover that entire trip. The tower won't impact home values any more than having a city operated facility close-by, including large water tanks and even this is exaggerated. The perceived impact to home values is the area is simply over-stated.

 

[SCPD]

There is a lot of incorrect and misguided information in your post. I don't have the time to correct every sentence, but here are a few: the tower is not a "back up" to Plano, it will be an active site transmitting and receiving public safety radio communications. Only the network controllers at the tower shelter are considered a backup in the event the master controller goes offline. Contrary to what someone told you, all radio comms at every structure fire are handled through the radio system (i.e. towers) NOT simplex by a "mobile command unit", which doesn't even get dispatched by some cities until the 2nd or 3rd alarm. Rural departments and some dense-urban areas may need to use simplex due to poor coverage; however, within our cities, the radio system coverage is sufficient and it is used primarily so the entire event can be watched (emergency activations by specific radio IDs) and recorded start to finish by dispatch. Fairview is not a current user of the Plano radio system, they are on the County system. I am also a homeowner, I am active with our association, and I would have no problem with a public safety tower in my backyard; so be aware not everyone shares your views.

Plano and Allen BACK-UP McKinney as in Mutual Aid. NOT a back-up repeater.

Yes, Fairview was asked when Allen began to look at placement of the NEW tower, they investigated Fairview as a potential Location. And Offered to bring Fairview on the system, Which Fairview declined because they were VERY happy on CCSO. But if you were to call and Ask them this, do you REALLY think they'd tell you?

A Public Safety tower in my backyard would lower my property value but maybe give me a Tax break too. And might even ensure a little better Police protection as Most departments closely patrol their tower sites.

**VX, I meant to quote her, but the screen jumped and I got you in the mix, Sorry!

 

[SCPD]

The City of Allen listened to its resident and voted NO TOWER at that site. Man, Lucky they didn't have me to contend with. I'd have put it there and then added 100 feet to it. Guess that's why I'm not in politics.

 

[mominallen]

Thanks for all your comments. I in no way present myself as an expert on this subject or technology. We are just thankful the Council has chosen to look at other options. Options that will provide the coverage needed but still not having a tower in our back yards. Have a great week.