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Concerns about electromagnetic radiation prompted directors of the Jewish Community Center on Walnut Street to temporarily withdraw its application for rooftop wireless communications antennae. 

The Zoning Adjustments Board was scheduled to consider the application by the JCC and Sprint Communications to install up to seven antennae, which primarily support cellular phone use, at its Thursday meeting but the item was continued at the request of Sprint.  

A letter written by Sprint consultant Shannon McDougal requested the continuance until Jan.11 because “Sprint would like more time to adequately address the electromagnetic exposure fears within the community.”  

Jeffrey Carter, vice president of the JCC’s Board of Directors, said the project is under review because a significant number of members expressed health concerns about children who attend preschool and after-school programs at the center. The concerns were aired at a Wednesday meeting. 

“A final decision hasn’t been made,” Carter said. “The reason the hearing was delayed is because we want to get more feedback from our membership.” 

The JCC’s careful approach to the issue reflects growing concerns in several residential neighborhoods about the increasing number of antennae sprouting up in Berkeley. 

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, several residents voiced strong opposition to ZAB’s approval of 12 antennae atop the Oaks Theater on Solano Avenue. As a result, the City Council will be considering at least two recommendations to restrict antenna placement in residential neighborhoods. 

The Oaks Theater neighbors cited recent articles from medical journals in the United Kingdom claiming a growing body of evidence showing electromagnetic radiation from wireless communication antennae and cell phones is harmful. 

The British government recently announced a $10 million program to conduct additional studies and launch a nationwide public information campaign discouraging cell phone use especially among children. 

But there is some question about how much authority municipalities have over restricting the location of any communications systems. According to the planning department, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 precludes municipalities from regulating communications facilities for anything but appearance. 

The City Council adopted a set of guidelines in 1996 that discouraged antennae in residential neighborhoods. But the ZAB has approved every application for residential antennae. 

“The concerns about radiation raised by concerned citizens is a question that seems to be beyond our authority,” said David Blake, a ZAB boardmember. “We’ve made few changes to any of the applications that have come before us.”