A non-binding, preliminary design review between Green Mountain Communications and the Peterborough, New Hampshire Planning Board yielded some results December 21. Each side discussed concerns over a 125-foot tower to be built in the area. The result of the meeting was Green Mountain’s decision to acquiesce to the Board’s request to perform a second visibility survey.
The Planning Board has been reluctant to approve the tower over concerns it will overly urbanize the town and disrupt its the visual esthetics. Town zoning ordinances restrict towers to 90-feet, and Green Mountain is seeking a special use permit to build the taller tower, arguing that it would provide better service to the people in the region.
According to the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, George Sterling, the chair of the Economic Development Authority, said of the ordinance, “That [zoning] ordinance you have to live with today was written and designed before (cell phones) were invented. It’s not a want — it’s a need to improve our phone or data communication. It’s critical to economic development in this area, as well as safety.”
Current plans for the tower revolve around a single T-Mobile antenna that will improve coverage in the area for the provider’s customers. The tower would be capable of holding up to three antennas, and could be used by other wireless providers in the future.
Green Mountain plans to notice the survey, which will be performed by two four-foot balloons flying over the proposed location. One balloon will be flown at 90 feet, the second at 125 feet. The exact date of the survey has not been determined.
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