However, while some trees in town change colors in the fall or provide fruit and shade for visitors or litter the ground with prickly balls, the latest one will provide better cellular phone coverage for Sprint customers around Carlisle Way.

But Sprint's 50-foot tall "monopole," disguised to look like a tree, is not a welcome addition to the flora of the neighborhood. Almost a dozen residents spoke out against the pole at the March 29 city council meeting.

The planning commission approved the pole's installation on Jan. 24, but the neighbors then gathered signatures and appealed the decision to the city council.

Much to the chagrin of the neighbors the council--in a 4-2 vote--OK'd the use permit for the pole, .

Residents' concerns focused on the visual impact of the pole, saying it would stand out over the other trees--many just over 30 feet tall--on the site. The pole is going to be installed on land owned by the California Water Service Company.

"This structure will literally tower over the other objects on that side and will be clearly visible," said neighbor Paul Healy, who will see the tower from his backyard.

In addition to the pole's height, the neighbors were concerned that the "stealthing" just wasn't very good and that the proposed tree would look unnatural and stand out too much against the surrounding foliage. One man even suggested that an unnatural tree would distract drivers and lead to an increase in car accidents.

"If you have a bunch of red roses in your yard and you put some daffodils in the middle, don't you think it will be visible?" asked Bob McLearn, another concerned neighbor.

In upholding the planning commission's decision, the council went against what Councilwoman Julia Miller said was a precedent of overruling the commission when it came to these decisions. On Jan. 11, a similar tower--to be built on the St. Luke's Lutheran Church property--was denied by the council.

Two weeks later, Sprint withdrew a similar application to put a pole on the St. Thomas Episcopal Church property at 231 Sunset Ave.

But ultimately, the city council elected this time to follow the planning commission's recommendation. Vice Mayor Ron Swegles and Councilman Fred Fowler both said that although the towers cause conflict between neighbors and cell phone providers, they provide a service to the community and improve the quality of life in Sunnyvale.

"That's part of the price of living in this community, sometimes we have to put up with things that we don't like," Fowler said.