“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us even in our soundest sleep.”
Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854
The town of Concord, home of Walden Pond, has struggled with insufficient cell service for years, but residents’ concerns about the placement of cell towers have stalled construction of additional towers. Concord first made an agreement 15 years ago with AT&T to erect a cell tower at the site of the town’s former landfill. A nearby non-profit, the Walden Woods Project, objected to the tower’s proximity to its land, and the tower was never built. Several other towers have been proposed, including a tower on the grounds of the Public Works Department, but none of the proposals thus far have been successful.
The most recent conflict stems from a proposal to install a wireless antenna inside the local community arts center and a cell tower on the campus of Concord-Carlisle Regional High School. Some residents have expressed concern that these proposals violate a local bylaw. The town’s zoning laws state that a cell tower must be further than 1,000 feet from schools and homes, while towers in existing buildings must be erected at least 300 feet from a home and 500 feet from a school. Verizon indicated that they do not wish to move forward with building the antenna inside the community arts center, a.k.a., “The Umbrella,” preferring instead the location at the high school, according to a report from Concord Wicked Local.
Last month, the Concord-Carlisle Regional School Committee agreed to allow the Deputy Superintendent to send a Request for Proposal from wireless companies, understanding that the potential for lease revenue would be a boon to the financially challenged school department. Some residents believe that the committee is not requiring Verizon to follow the proper procedure to submit a proposal. One dissenting resident, Sheldon Hines, told the committee, “If you wish controversy over the next six months, then allow the RPF to go out,” according to Concord Wicked Local. Hines believes Verizon should be required to file a permit before the RFP is issued, as well as fully explore options for alternative sites for the tower. The school superintendent is still in talks with Verizon to clearly understand the tower’s benefits and impacts before any plans are finalized.
December 18, 2017
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