WAYLAND – The Zoning Board of Appeals is holding off on reviewing a cell tower proposed for Wayland Rod & Gun Club land that neighbors say is decidedly unwelcome.
Verizon Wireless, which has applied to build the tower, is evaluating an alternative site to see if it is feasible, Verizon attorney Christopher Swiniarski wrote in a letter to the board.
On Tuesday, the board continued a hearing on the project to May 8.
“If it works out, it will be I think a benefit to everybody,” said attorney Elizabeth Mason, who represented Verizon at Tuesday's meeting.
Mason declined to specify where the new property is located.
As it seeks to close a service gap in southwest Wayland, Verizon applied to build an approximately 140-foot tower at 4 Meadowview Road. The tower and associated equipment would be surrounded by a chain-link fence and sit several hundred feet back from the road.
About 30 people attended Tuesday’s meeting and some people have yellow signs in their yards opposing the project. Residents worry in part that a tower will harm property values and the environment and look ugly.
The neighborhood already has power lines nearby, said Andrew Munton of Oak Hill Road in an interview Tuesday.
"I think (the tower) would be an eyesore on the landscape there," he said.
It’s a scenic neighborhood today, said Duane Galbi of Stonebridge Road, who worries about aesthetic and other concerns.
Some people worry radio frequency exposure could contribute to health concerns.
While a radiation safety specialist produced a report showing that the tower meets relevant federal and state standards for radio frequency exposure, the cumulative effects from other sources may pose problems, Munton wrote in a recent Town Crier letter to the editor.
Munton and Galbi said they are pleased to see Verizon looking elsewhere.
The town has existing wireless communications facility zoning districts along Rte. 20 in western Wayland and near the intersection of Old Connecticut Path and Shaw Drive. But, those areas do not allow Verizon to improve spotty wireless coverage in southwestern Wayland, the company wrote in documents filed with the town.
The tower would improve public health and safety by enhancing cellphone service. Phones are often used in emergencies, according to materials Verizon submitted to the town.
Verizon also provided images to the town showing how trees help screen the tower.
“We always strive to work with communities to balance the interests of residents who want modern wireless service with aesthetic concerns, and we look forward to working with the Town of Wayland to do the same,” Swiniarski wrote in a different letter to the board.
Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.