CHESTERFIELD — More than 50 residents from Chesterfield and Worthington crowded into a small meeting room Monday evening for a Planning Board hearing on a 130-foot cell tower proposed for Ireland Street Extension.
Representing AT&T, Edward D. Pare Jr. of Brown Rudnick in Providence, R.I., said the monopole would allow AT&T to provide cellphone service to areas along Route 112 where there is currently a gap in service.
As proposed, the monopole would be sited within a 100-square-foot facility at 33 Ireland St. Ext., and Pare assured the board that there would be no clear-cutting of trees in the area.
Several residents expressed concerns about potential loss of property value, the impact on the natural surroundings and also called into question the diligence with which AT&T conducted its research on the area.
Dee Cinner of Chesterfield said that having read the proposal she noted that some street names were from other out-of-state communities, saying “This proposal looks like it has just been cut and pasted together.”
Judith Lyons, an abutter on Ireland Street, said that a balloon test to visualize the tower was not sufficient for estimating the year-round impact for a New England countryside and woodland filled with deciduous trees that will be bare in the winter.
Several Worthington residents attending the meeting objected to the fact that the pole would be visible from the historic village of South Worthington.
Those speaking in favor of the tower said it would improve their phone service and help public safety.
“I get one bar on my cellphone if I stand out on my deck,” said Nancy Rich of Chesterfield. “So I am paying for a service, but can barely get any service.”
Chesterfield Police Chief Edward Murray said he felt increased service would promote public safety.
“From a public safety point of view, there is no way that this tower can be a hindrance,” Murray said. “There is nothing that sends shivers down my spine more than someone falling or getting lost at the Chesterfield Gorge, because communication there is a nightmare.”
The maps provided by AT&T, however, appeared to show that coverage would not actually extend to that area of Chesterfield.
In 2011, the Planning Board approved an almost identical AT&T proposal for a monopole at this location, but the project never went through, having been shelved by AT&T.
“Now, we are back before the Planning Board because of an increase in demand for service,” Pare said.
According to Planning Board Chairman Charles “Skip” Valencik, the proposal will still need to be reviewed by other town boards before a decision on the application is reached.
Valencik also said that notice for Monday’s meeting was not posted in time to give surrounding towns the required 35 days to respond with questions or concerns, so the Planning Board hearing will be continued on a later date.