Mansfield residents protested a 90-foot monopole proposed by Eco-Site and T-Mobile at a recent planning board meeting, reported The Sun Chronicle. The carrier claims the tower is needed to alleviate gaps in wireless coverage, allowing for co-location of multiple antennas.
Lawyer Ricardo Sousa, representing Eco-Site and T-Mobile, said frequency and “drive tests,” in which reception is checked in a number of locations, show a “significant gap” in signal coverage, triggering the need for a new tower. However, residents had a different take. They presented their own tests, showing few problems with wireless reception and questioned the proponents’ claims concerning alternative sites. They also pointed to declarations on T-Mobile’s website regarding excellent coverage in Mansfield, according to the Chronicle.
Residents were concerned whether alternative locations for the tower had been thoroughly explored and believe the project will be an “eyesore” that will negatively impact property values. T-Mobile’s application states the carrier did, in fact, consider a number of other potential sites.
To obtain permission to construct the tower, the applicant needs to obtain a special permit from the planning board and is required to file an application with the conservation commission. The planning board will address the matter during a meeting on September 12.
July 26, 2018
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