Hoping to move ahead with its plans to erect a 170-foot cell tower at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, Vertex instead received a rejection letter from the town of Thornton. As NHPR.org reports, Vertex is planning to appeal that decision in court.
“I’m having a problem accepting that the major tower structure that this application proposes is either warranted or is the appropriate solution to the coverage deficiencies,” said Frank Freeman, Thornton Planning Board board member, after the decision was announced, “I wonder if perhaps another far less intrusive and less impactful solution would be appropriate.”
The Board has five days to put its refusal in writing and submit it to Vertex. Freeman said that the possible environmental repercussions and lack of extraordinary poor connections swayed the Board’s decision. Just a few months ago, Vertex was granted the variance that would allow construction to begin. It was noted at the time that it would be an asset to emergency services providers. The FAA’s findings determined that the tower would not create a flight obstacle. Whether or not the plan to build would create an environmental hazard is unknown as Vertex would need to do its investigation after the town’s approval of the tower plans, not before.
Though the Sununu family has remained silent, NHPR.org noted that the land bordering the forest on Cone Mountain is owned by relatives of the New Hampshire governor. The family has previously denied their nearby Waterville ski resort has any connection to Vertex’s cell tower plans. However, if allowed to proceed, the project would benefit from tax breaks stemming from its classification as an “Opportunity Zone.”
Meanwhile, citizens who have lobbied against the presence of a cell tower say that they will remain vigilant. The town has filed a motion to dismiss the group’s earlier challenge to the zoning decision, though neighbors like Jeremy Duffield have said they are not giving up and were reportedly “delighted” by the decision to deny Vertex’s request. “I’m still in a little bit of a state of shock,” said Duffield, whose property abuts the proposed tower site.
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