The city has quickly rejected a plan to put a 110-foot cell phone tower next to a cluster of condominiums, but its proponents are now considering options.
Citing its size and location, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted Tuesday night to deny a company variances to build a cell phone tower next to Storey Avenue, one of the city's main thoroughfares.
Ed Ramsdell, chairman of the board, said about 50 to 60 people who live in the neighborhood of the proposed development - mostly on Clipper Way and at the Village at Newburyport - attended the hearing to oppose the proposal.
The Village at Newburyport, a condominium complex, is 152 feet from where the proposed tower would have been built.
"It was going to be so close to those residences up there and so massive," Ramsdell said.
Though the board has the legal ability to deliberate its decision over the course of weeks, it voted the same night that the matter was brought before it.
Omnipoint Communications and 5G Investment Trust had proposed to build a 110-foot, flag pole-style cell phone tower, equipped with antennas, coaxial cable and radio communications, at 74 Storey Ave. The land is situated between the Midas Service Shop, a car wash and the Clipper Way complex, near Dunkin' Donuts, about a block from Interstate 95.
Such towers are allowed only in the industrial park unless the ZBA grants a variance. When located outside the industrial park, Ramsdell said cellular facilities are often put at the top of a church steeple or some other inconspicuous location.
Gloria Braunhardt, one of the neighbors who attended the meeting and helped to organize others to attend, said the denial is a victory for that section of Newburyport. She said while many city officials pay attention to the downtown area, little attention - or protection - is given to the area of the proposed cell tower.
"It really takes an excellent turnout from the neighborhood, and that's what they got," she said. "They filled the benches in there."
Richard Fitzgerald, who has lived at the Village at Newburyport for about 21/2 years, said the ZBA's denial is good for the property owners in the area.
"I never would have bought my home if I thought there would be a cell phone tower 500 feet away," he said. "This is zoned residential, why should I have to look at that?"
Larry Rosenfeld, one of the partners of 5G Investment, said he has yet to make a decision on whether his company will appeal the decision.
"I was a little surprised they denied it so quickly," he said, adding that usually a board will continue such a matter to give the company a chance to respond to the concerns. "But at least we got an answer," he said.
Rosenfeld said he will meet with his lawyer do decide on the next step. He said they likely will start looking at other options since cell phone service providers have shown such strong interest in the area.
Rosenfeld said the company was contacted by T-Mobile regarding the need for more coverage in the area. He said they contacted other phone companies, and Verizon said it also had a need for additional coverage. Coverage in part of the city is poor, particularly in the neighborhoods bordering Rawson Avenue and Oakland Street.
His company looked at many sites in the area, but 74 Storey Ave. was the "most conducive" since it is mostly businesses around the location.
The pole would have been what the company calls a "stealth tower" since it is made to look like a flag pole. He said communities can decide whether they want a flag flying from the pole.
Cell phone tower proposals have had a rough time in the area in recent months.
Most recently, a proposed cell phone tower at Iron Moon Farm on Route 1A in Newbury was the basis of a months-long, contentious battle between residents who opposed the tower and those who wanted to build the tower. Neighbors of the location for the tower made lawn signs in protest.
Eventually, the town of Newbury rejected the tower, which was sought by Omnipoint.
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City hangs up on cell tower plan
Source: Newbury Port News
Date: 08/30/2007
