Located primarily on Conanicut Island, Jamestown, RI is a seashore community that needs cell towers to stay connected to the rest of the world on the mainland. There is one major highway that runs East-West across the island, but the more rural north end residents can find themselves digitally stranded. In an effort to reach all residents, the Planning Commission has expressed its support for a new cell tower on Carr Lane, reports the Jamestown Press.
The 160-foot monopole would extend wireless connectivity for the region north of route 138. Up to four carriers will be able to occupy the structure, which will be located within a fenced 75-foot by 75-foot compound. The 11 acre property hosting the cell tower contains only two homes, and generous setbacks will place the cell tower safely away from its nearest neighbors.
Navigator Properties, LLC, the project applicant, commissioned a study in 2019 and discovered that cell service on the north end of the island is insufficient, reports the Jamestown Press. “The majority of the area analyzed has poor coverage outdoors and almost no coverage indoors,” the study noted.
When considering Navigator’s proposal, the Planning Commission expressed its interest in continuing with the project after addressing some concerns that were raised about noise emissions from site generators.
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, attorney Brian Grossman explained that the generators have built-in noise mufflers. The generators are unlikely to engage, he noted, as they are a back-up system designed to keep islanders connected if the primary battery systems are exhausted in emergency conditions. The batteries themselves, he added, are EPA compliant gel type components that will not constitute an environmental threat. In addition, the modest height of the 160-foot tower will not require lights, further minimizing the presence of the new structure.
The Planning Commission approved Navigator’s application, with two notable recommendations. The Board wants a “sound-reducing enclosure” around any on-site generators and stipulated that the generators must be powered by propane rather than petroleum. The Board also required that the applicant put up a removal bond for a future date when the cell tower may need to be disassembled.
The amount of the removal bond, the cost of the project, and the project start date have not yet been revealed. The Jamestown Press noted that the zoning board will need to issue special use permits for several elements of the project, such as issuing approval for a structure over 50 feet.
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