PROVO — Neighborhood activist Paul Evans has two names for the 70-foot-tall artificial tree being constructed by Sprint PCS in his Provo neighborhood.
The first name is "mayorus billingsii," named after Provo Mayor Lewis K. Billings. The other moniker is "Provo Bureaucratic Silent Pine."
Evans and at least 12 of his Riverbottoms neighbors have called the Provo mayor to complain about the tree near 36 W. 3700 North, which is really a stealth cell phone tower.
Evans believes the tree is in violation of city code, and he and his neighbors are upset that no public hearing was held before construction began.
"It seems to us that Mayor Billings is more concerned about what Sprint might do than what citizens might do," Evans said.
The "pine" tree, a galvanized steel pole made of fiberglass and PVC, is the first of its kind in Utah. Leroy Sewell, who is supervising the construction for Sprint, says the tree does not violate city code.
Evans contends the tower is in violation because it is not consistent in character or height with other trees in the area. He says the tree towers 25 feet above any other tree within half a city block.
Officials with Sprint and the city say this is not true.
Lin Alderman, who manages the property for Sprint, says the tree is no more than 10 feet above the highest tree in the neighborhood.
"The city probably knows what they're doing because they gave us the building permit," Alderman said. "Just because one neighbor isn't happy doesn't mean we can't build it."
While city officials agree that the tower is in compliance, they acknowledge improvements could be made in the approval process.
The city's planning staff is authorized to approve projects under 3 acres in size without city approval, but if similar towers are built in the future there will be a public hearing first, said Provo City spokesman Mike Mower.
"What we've realized is that we'll need to more specifically detail how these structures will be reviewed in the future," Mower said.
Sprint plans to plant other trees in the area to help the tower blend into its surroundings. Sprint will also build a fence around the tower's base.
E-mail: jhyde@desnews.com