By Kim Siebert MacPhail
At their meeting on August 5—three days before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the issue—the Selectmen unanimously agreed to express disapproval for a proposed telecommunications tower at 274 North Road, a privately-owned residential property near Wildwood Drive and Dudley Road.
In their decision to disapprove, the Selectmen referenced a letter to ZBA Chair Angelo Colasante from town counselors Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP that gave details of the AT&T/Cingular Wireless special permit application to construct a 125-foot high wireless communication facility (WCF) at the North Road site. According to the letter, AT&T has requested a setback variance because the cell tower will be closer to the property line than 125 feet in deference to a stipulation in Bedford’s zoning bylaw that “requires that towers, antennas, and associated structures be set back from the nearest residential lot line at a distance at least equal to their height.”
At the request of the Selectmen, concerned resident John Premack of Stonegate Lane spoke about the primary reasons that a group of “over a hundred” citizens were expected to attend Thursday’s ZBA hearing to protest the tower on the grounds of unsightly appearance, safety, and proximity to the historic Job Lane House.
“We have some serious concerns vis-à-vis the neighborhood,” Premack said. “We’ve been preparing a significant presentation for Thursday night’s [ZBA] meeting to make our opinions known. . . There are more appropriate locations [for a cell tower.]”
Town Manager Rick Reed told the Selectmen that AT&T is already aware of the high level of displeasure with the tower proposal and may withdraw their request “without prejudice” if the Town is willing to work with corporate representatives to find an alternate site in the North Road area, which is known for poor cell service.
“There would be a process for working with the Town. If it didn’t work out, they would probably reinitiate their application,” Reed explained. “Under Federal law, you can’t absolutely deny the rights to these companies to be able to build a facility to provide cell phone service.”
Selectman Mark Siegenthaler added, “We went ahead and created the [zoning] bylaw in part because we were trying encourage use of municipal property [for telecommunications towers] rather than having facilities scattered all over town on private property.”
The Selectmen directed Town Manager Reed to register their disapproval of the North Road site with the ZBA. They also asked that Reed make known the Town’s willingness to work with AT&T so that a more agreeable, mutually beneficial location can be identified.
Until AT&T formally withdraws its application, however, the ZBA’s plans to hold the public hearing will continue for August 8, 7:30, in the Town Hall’s multipurpose room.
To read the public hearing notice: https://www.bedfordma.gov/sites/bedfordma/files/agenda/agenda-file/zba_agenda_-_august_8.pdf
To check the Town’s meeting calendar for possible cancellation of the public hearing: https://www.bedfordma.gov/town-calendar-by-event-type/1291/2013-08
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