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13 <br />estate appraiser, Winston. T. Morgan, compared the <br />Greenfield Road neighborhood to the Turkey Run <br />subdivision. Mr. Morgan testified that there had been <br />no decrease in value of the homes in the Turkey Run <br />.subdivision, which has three towers near it. [Record, 2- <br />12. The real estate valuation specialist, Joseph <br />Smathers, Jr., compared a neighborhood with towers, <br />Wildwood Subdivision, to one without, Cornwallis Hills <br />Subdivision. Mr. Smathers concluded that the existence <br />of telecommunications towers in close .proximity to <br />.Wildwood had. a minimal negative effect on the value of <br />the homes in the Wildwood .neighborhood. [Record, <br />Smathers Report, Conclusions.] He stated, at the <br />hearing, that studies conducted by him have indicated <br />-that a tower structure does not "generally impact on the <br />property values of surrounding property." ,[Record, 5-10. <br />Emphasis added.] <br />The Board also heard evidence from adjoining landowners <br />on the issue of valuation. These citizens offered <br />testimony to point out weaknesses in the methods and <br />.conclusions of both Morgan and Smathers. The Board heard <br />evidence at its meeting on November 17th, 1998 that <br />Morgan was ..trying to~compare incomparable neighborhoods. <br />Russ Townsley testified that the comparison of these two <br />neighborhoods was inappropriate because Greenfield Road <br />currently has no nearby telecommunications towers nor <br />any above ground utility wires, while Turkey Run was <br />constructed after the location. of the nearby towers. <br />Thus, he .stated, there would not be a period in the life <br />of the Turkey Run subdivision pre-tower to compare to <br />Greenfield Road. [Record, 2-8 . ] <br />The Board also heard testimony that Smathers'. report was <br />inconclusive because of a lack of similarity between <br />Wildwood and Greenfield Road. For example, .the average <br />lot size on Greenfield Road is one acre, as compared to <br />1/ acre in Wildwood; Greenfield has restrictive covenants <br />that prohibit aboveground wires, while Wildwood does <br />not. Based on these differences, it was argued, <br />.Smathers' report does not prove that the proposed tower <br />would not diminish property values. [Record, 2-8, 2-13.] <br />The Board heard testimony from contiguous property <br />owners whose homes are located on Greenfield Road and <br />who spoke in opposition to the tower: <br />Russ Townsley testified that LTe--and other contiguous <br />landowners think that they"tower would diminish the <br />value of their properties. He testified that the <br />9 <br />