Southwick Planning Board closes public hearing on Verizon cell tower

Jan. 12, 2021 | Dennis Hackett
dennis@thereminder.com

SOUTHWICK – After months of discussion and testimony over a proposed Verizon cell tower off Liberty Lane, the Southwick Planning Board closed the public hearing after further discussion about the balloon floats during the board’s Jan. 5 meeting.

To start the hearing, attorney Michael Fenton, who represents Verizon’s application, said they would move the access road to the tower after Board Vice Chair Marcus Phelps raised concerns over potential windthrow.

“At the last hearing, Chairman Phelps asked that we look into moving the access road 20 to 25 feet to the west to avoid any potential windthrow issues with the surrounding trees and vegetation. We consulted with Cotton Tree Service and are able to make that accommodation,” he said.

For Verizon’s presentation, David Archambault, one of the consultants for Verizon, went through the photographs from the balloon float on Dec. 18 before the board and explained the importance of the float.

“The purpose of the balloon float is to give a representation of where the top of the tower is going to be located. By using that, we take a 3D model, put it into the picture, and from the picture is covered by whatever is in front of it,” he said.

Planning Board Member Jessica Thornton said that in driving around, the balloon was visible in places the Verizon photographs did not cover.

“While it has been stated this new photo simulation is a perfect rendition and supports Verizon’s case, just from my own driving around I could see the balloon from locations that are not marked as being visible. I appreciate the work Mr. Archambault did, but it is certainly not a complete record of the visuals that are there,” she said.

During the hearing, attorney Andrew Campanelli from Campanelli and Associates, once again represented residents against the tower and said Verizon used specific photos to limit the visual impact of the tower based on the balloon test.

“These photographs are strategically chosen from perspectives which look like they minimize the adverse aesthetic impact. This tower is going to be far more adverse than what they are portraying in their disclosures, which is likely why they didn’t want any photos taken from the perspective from the owners,” he said.

Campanelli also said that he believed Verizon acted in bad faith by drafting an agreement with residents to take photos of the float from their property that would require them to defend Verizon in the case of any negligence.

“No attorney worth their salt is going to let their client sign something as nonsensical as this. I don’t believe Verizon believed my clients would have signed this. I believe this is in bad faith that they didn’t want to go on the properties and take those photographs because they show the trees in that area is not going to shield a 120 foot tower from the visual impact it will inflict,” he said.

One of the larger concerns from the public over the course of the hearing process has been the potential for Verizon to raise the tower above the proposed 120 feet, but Town Planner Alan Slessler said Verizon would have to come back before the board to do so.

“Attorney Begland expressed the concern that our decision can be written in such a position that the tower will not be more than 120 feet, and if they wanted to modify that, they would have to come back for another meeting for a modification. The design of the monopole makes it so that you could not place an addition on top unless you replace the whole pole. He cautioned that our decision should be very clear on what is proposed,” he said.

After closing the hearing, Phelps said the board will deliberate on the decision for the tower at its next meeting.

The Southwick Planning Board next meets on Jan. 19.

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