Last night was the first public hearing for the special permit for the monopole proposed for 55 Bearfoot Road by National Grid. This is to be one of the first tests of the bylaws in acted by the town in the spring of this year. The Selectman’s meeting room was filled to capacity (40+ people) and there were at least another ten people in the hall, some of whom left because they were not able to hear the presentation. The hearing was opened with 3 representatives from National Grid and their lawyer presenting their proposed plans and how their project meets all of the setback rules. See Link to 7/17 NorthboroNews story giving a description of the project. The hearing was 30 minutes of presentations followed by 40 minutes of questions from residents and National Grid responses.
Issues brought up at the hearing included:
- National Grid is offering to allow the town to locate police and fire communications to the tower, free of charge and they state that they intend to employ an additional 375 to staff the customer service facility proposed.
- The bylaws require co-location on existing towers where feasible, otherwise a special permit requires zoning board approval. An AT&T tower is located the adjacent property at 119 Bearfoot Road. Residents requested that AT&T be independently contacted to see if the current tower is at capacity now and in the near future. National Grid maintains they could not use the AT&T tower due to security and the line of site between 55 Bearfoot, 119 Bearfoot and to the Boylston tower. They explained that grade and tree cover prevents line of site between the Bearfoot Road locations and National Grid maintains that underground wiring would be too unreliable.
- Residents inquired whether lights will be on the tower. National Grid said that no lights will be on the tower as its on private property and the FAA does not require on private property and noted the distance of the proposed site from any airstrips. Citizens indicated concern over the safety of a light-less tower in such close proximity to the helicopter landing pad used for life flight located at 55 Bearfoot Road.
- Residents inquired about whether their property values will be adjusted to reflect the decreased value and noted the subsequent loss of tax revenue to the town.
- National Grid said no camouflage is available for the proposed tower because it could interfere with their reliability and accessibility requirements, as well as the fact that a MonoPine would not be aesthetically pleasing in a parking lot with only 20 foot tree cover.
- Per bylaws, the proposal must include pictures showing how the proposed tower would appear. National Grid presented more than 9 pictures of the area. Notably, no pictures were taken from the nearest residences at Pond View Way, less than 600 feet away nor from across Solomon Pond.
- The town bylaw requires a 3 carrier minimum for all new towers in town. This is an effort to limit the number of towers in town. National Grid is proposes they put a 30 inch dish on the tower. All pictures indicated how the tower would appear with their 1 dish, not with the additional carrier’s antennas. Town asked the Grid if they would consider limiting the monopole to just the one dish, they indicated that they never want to limit it for their use and would not not guarantee that they won’t add other antennas and/or dishes in the future.
- National Grid said there would be absolutely no impact on the wildlife due to the Monopole. FCC Laws supersede using “environmental effects” or health concerns as a reason for permit denial. Telecommunications Act of 1996 Two doctors spoke regarding concern for area children’s health.
- William Farnsworth, Town Building inspector, stated that a daycare located within 600 feet of the tower does not constitute a school and thus the project can not be denied based on the 1000 foot from a school bylaw.
The board opted to continue the hearing into their September 1 meeting at 7:30PM (Subject to change).
Link to Metrowest Daily Article 8/4
Link to 7/21 MW article proposed cell tower article
Is there any reason why the next meeting on Sept. 1st can’t be held in the gymnasium at the town hall office building?
I’m sure we were over the capacity limit for this room at the Aug. 4th meeting, not a safe situation, and I suspect there will be more people at the Sept. 1st meeting. It’s pretty sad that tax payers felt turned away because there was no room for them at this crucial meeting for the community and the planning board.
I’m shocked that a day care- that houses, cares and teaches children for more hours than a school, does not qualify as a “school”. Its just semantics at this point. Also, the fact that we’re forced (by the FCC) to turn a blind eye to the potentially hazardous side effects on our children is shocking.
Comments by Bill:”The People’s Constitutional Rights to a Clean Environment”
Kindly consider to post on the NorthboroNews.org website the attached legal synopsized treatise on the people’s constitutional right to a Clean Environment. Our citizens would like to be aware of this innate right they possess. And the above quoted Mass. State Constitutional Articles, if appropriated to also include them.
References:
1. Massachusetts Constitution
2. Mass. Constitution Article XLIV – Rights to a Clean Environment
* “Article XLIX. [The conservation, development and utilization of the agricultural, mineral, forest, water and other natural resources of the commonwealth are public uses, and the general court shall have power to provide for the taking, upon payment of just compensation therefor, of lands and easements or interests therein, including water and mineral rights, for the purpose of securing and promoting the proper conservation, development, utilization and control thereof and to enact legislation necessary or expedient therefor.] [Superseded by Amendments, Art. XCVII ] ”
* “Article XCVII. Article XLIX of the Amendments to the Constitution is hereby annulled and the following is adopted in place thereof: – The people shall have the right to clean air and water, freedom from excessive and unnecessary noise, and the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic qualities of their environment; and the protection of the people in their right to the conservation, development and utilization of the agricultural, mineral, forest, water, air and other natural resources is hereby declared to be a public purpose.”
Kindly consider to post on the NorthboroNews.org website the attached legal synopsized treatise on the people’s constitutional right to a Clean Environment. Our citizens would like to be aware of this innate right they possess. And the above quoted Mass. State Constitutional Articles, if appropriated to also include them
Also, please take note, this constitutional right carries over to a having and protecting a safe and healthy rf radiation environment.