A cell phone tower proposed by Ridan Industries for construction behind the Skyway Plaza, 901 62nd Ave. S, is getting mixed reviews from nearby residents.

The tower is expected to be 150 feet tall and provide service for at least two - maybe up to four - cellular phone companies.

Concerned neighbors fear the tower will lower property values. They also worry about health hazards.

On the other hand, neighborhoods south and east of the shopping plaza struggle to get service to their cell phones, said Greater Pinellas Point Civic Association president John Bagg.

"We just have lousy service out here, no matter who the provider is," Bagg said.

Bagg thinks the closest cellular tower is at 42nd Avenue and Fourth Street S, which is usually the location from which he receives service. Sometimes he gets service from a tower in Bradenton. The distance between his neighborhood and the towers makes for unreliable connections and substandard reception.

Although Bagg supports the tower, he said: "Mostly, as president of this association, I'm interested in a balanced discussion about the issue, not just putting my opinion out there. There are bad service connections out here that need to be addressed one way or the other."

Kevin Barile, president of Ridan Industries, will attend the Greater Pinellas Point Neighborhood Association meeting to answer questions and speak about the issue. The meeting is at 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Bay Vista Center, 7000 Fourth St. S.

The Environmental Development Commission unanimously rejected plans to build a cell phone tower on the property of Admiral Farragut Academy on Aug. 3.

"The commission was very open-minded, and based on the questions they were asking the (phone company) representative, they were following up on points we had made," said Jungle Prada Neighborhood Association president Paul Traxler.

Many residents within Jungle Prada signed a petition against the proposal and showed up at the hearing to speak against the plan.

Admiral Farragut and Sprint, the cellular phone company that would rent the space to build the tower, now have the option to appeal the decision made by the commission. At this time, Farragut officials have not said whether they will appeal.