Planning Board Considering Two Wireless Facilities: One New, One Modified

The Westwood Planning Board Tuesday night discussed the construction of a wireless communications facility at and the modification of an existing facility at .

It has been the for the town of Westwood. Planning Board Chair Steve Rafsky commented on the consistent appearance of agenda items regarding cell towers and wireless facilities this year, saying that it was as though the board members were in the cell tower business.

The public hearing regarding the wireless facility at Morrison Field was a continuation from a meeting in May, and was for consideration of an Environmental Impact and Design Review (EIDR) and/or a special permit. The application for the project was filed by New Cingular Wireless PCS and involves building a 90-foot structure with a maximum 36 inch diameter, with it tapering from 30 inches.

The tower would replace an existing one, and aims to be similar in structure, with a flagpole style monopole that will have nine interior antennas, associated coax cables, conduits and other electronic equipment.

The carrier involved is AT&T, and representative for AT&T Edward Perry explained that since the last meeting, members of the Planning Board performed a site visit.

He explained that some things were adjusted after the site walk, including the relocation spot of the tower. He said that it has originally been proposed 10 feet east of the location now proposed. The original plan had the structure placed 38 feet back from the railroad tracks.

Perry said that all the trees that will be cut down have been marked. They will minimize the amount of trees being cut in order to keep the tower shielded, except in the area facing the railroad tracks where no shielding is necessary. Planning Board Vice Chair Steve Olanoff was especially concerned about the trees, but Perry assured him that precautions would be taken.

“If we can avoid the trees, we will avoid them,” said Perry.

Town Planner Nora Loughnane stressed that the board did not want any clear cutting of the existing vegetation. She said that the main focus is to have the tower not visible from the surrounding parks.

Planning Board Secretary Jack Wiggin asked if this would increase coverage area. Perry said that it will expand some of the coverage area, but will also create new service coverage area all together. He explained that they would be updating both 3G and 4G services.

The hearing will be continued on July 26 at 8:30 p.m.

The second agenda item regarding a wireless facility is merely a modification of an existing structure located at Thurston Middle School. Loughnane explained that this was originally proposed verbally by Heath Petracca, Finance and Business Director for Westwood School District, and officially proposed by the Thurston Middle School.

The plan is to modify the structure by adding three antennas for AT&T. It would increase the diameter of the existing structure from 18 to 24 inches. To do this, Perry explained that they would drop the existing six antennas down into a belfry area, with fiberglass to screen them off and block visibility. The structure is located on top of the school and tops out at 83 feet above ground level.

Perry said that the modification will be essentially unnoticeable to the naked eye and that they wouldn’t be adding to the height of any structure.

“For the most part, it’s invisible, except for the increase of the diameter of the canister from 18 to 24 (inches),” said Perry.

There was also a fee of that AT&T was seeking to have waived, but being only $500, the Planning Board felt that this was a nominal fee that can be taken care of by AT&T.

The Planning Board voted unanimously to consider the EIDR for the modification of the facility.