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PEARLAND, Texas (FOX 26) - It was the backyard, Cody says, that prompted him to buy his home in the 2900 block of Dixon in Pearland.
Now, all he sees is a 105-foot steel lattice tower. It’s one of 17 towers CenterPoint erected in an ongoing project.
Residents who now have these huge towers for neighbors say they didn’t see this coming.
“It’s clear they didn’t want to fight the fight until they were up,” said homeowner John Sloan referring to CenterPoint.
CenterPoint told these residents in a recent meeting they didn’t have to let them know because the company owns the easement.
Still, some 200 Pearland residents are crying foul.
“They’re unhappy, vocal and that number is growing, in fact,” said Nancy Peskin.
“When you round the corner to go to my house, you’re assaulted by this giant tower,” said Debbie Sloan.
CenterPoint Energy tells us since all construction is within the company’s existing 80-foot transmission easement and no new right of way is required, the PUC does not require public notice.
“They did not provide us with the dignity or respect a year ago to sit down and say 'these towers are coming to your easement,'” Peskin said.
Some of the towers could come down, CenterPoint reportedly told residents, but the residents would have to pay millions to make that happen.
“It’s about 20 feet from our home. It’s not in our backyard it’s in our front yard,” said Jennifer Zebak.
Zebak worries about possible radiation being so close to the huge tower.
“You have to consider the worst when you have a loved one go through cancer,” she said.
“We have a study specific to Houston that shows an 18 to 30 percent reduction in home values as a result of these electrical transmission lines," said Peskin.
“Your main investment is your home,” said Debbie Sloan. “And you just grabbed 30 percent of our investment.”
This CenterPoint project will go through Webster and Friendswood.
Residents there could also find themselves with huge towers for neighbors without any public notice.