<p>Marking the end of six years of deliberations and debate, the Edgartown planning board voted 4 to 1 to approve the installation of a permanent cell tower on Chappaquiddick at a packed meeting Tuesday night.</p>
The Edgartown planning board voted to approve the installation of an 115-foot permanent AT&T cell tower on Chappaquiddick at a packed meeting Tuesday evening.
The vote was 4 to 1 with the lone dissenting vote coming from board member Lucy Morrison.
The approval marks the end of nearly six years of deliberations involving AT&T, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the planning board over the necessity of the tower and the permitting process.
The tower will be built at 14 Sampson avenue and AT&T can begin construction as soon as next year, pending negotiations on the construction schedule and design of the pole between AT&T and the planning board.
There is currently a temporary 104-foot pole at the location providing limited cell service.
Public outcry over aesthetics and perceived health effects from building the tower near residential properties also contributed to delays in the project.
At the meeting, several board members stressed that they had debated the project for long enough and the tower is now crucial to public safety, especially in light of the recent spate of winter northeasters.
“The benefits far outweigh the detriments,” said board member James Cisek. “This would be the first step in providing a service that’s needed.”
Board member Fred Mascolo added that six years is the longest that the board has ever deliberated on an issue. He echoed that improved cell reception on Chappaquiddick is vital when an emergency strikes.
“The worst thing that could happen is to stall out and wait and wait and not have a tower,” Mr. Mascolo said.
But Lucy Morrison expressed frustration over what she saw as a lack of consideration for alternative locations for the tower. She pointed to Majane Lane as a possible location that hadn’t received enough attention.
“I don’t feel like alternative sites were vetted fairly enough through our process and through the commission,” Ms. Morrison said. “I have specific questions about this specific site that haven’t been answered yet.”
Planning board assistant Georgiana Greenough disagreed and said the board had already explored multiple other locations. She added that it wasn’t the planning board’s job to pick the location, just to approve or disapprove of locations presented to them by AT&T.
“We had about seven different properties owned by the town in very good locations and we couldn’t get them by,” Ms. Greenough said. “It’s not like other places hadn’t been vetted.”
Ms. Morrison claimed that at a previous meeting an AT&T representative had said the company would be okay with building on alternative proposed sites if 14 Sampson avenue wasn’t approved. She asked Dan Bilezikian, an AT&T site acquisition specialist present at the meeting, to clarify.
“AT&T’s position is that 14 Samson avenue is the best location,” he said.
After nearly an hour of discussion, the board decided to move the question. Planning board alternate Scott Morgan, who lives near a cell tower in Edgartown, gave the final opinion.
“I live closer to a cell tower than anyone else in this room,” he said. “Do I like it? No. Has it disrupted my life? No. It has not affected my life negatively at all.”
No testimony was taken during the meeting, but Sampson avenue abutter Robert Strayton made it clear the fight wasn’t over and that he would press litigation.
“I want to go on the record that I formally object,” he said.
Comments
I've seen cell towers off
deshandra brown EdgI've seen cell towers off-island disguised to look like pine trees. Is that under consideration? It would certainly help with any visual issues.
I've seen those towers, too.
Kevin OBI've seen those towers, too. And they look absurd dressed up like fake pine trees. Sometimes a cell tower is just a cell tower.
ah, come on Kevin, those
Lorraine Edgartownah, come on Kevin, those dressed up fake pine trees are meant to fool the city mouse, not the country mouse!!!
Enough! This debate has
Dean Rosenthal EdgartownEnough! This debate has lasted years and the chair is right that is the job of the elected officials of the Planning Board to approve locations presented by AT&T, not vet our own and provide options to them. It is a stretch to say that if sites that were preferable to the Planning Board (and thus Edgartown) the direction to go in would be to steer AT&T to such a location. That was not the agreement. No one wants the tower due to NIMBY, I know I probably wouldn’t, but such is life sometimes. Safety first, always!
It’s 2018 - I don’t think
Brian ChappyIt’s 2018 - I don’t think having suitable cell service is a real debate
It’s essential in today’s world
Time to grow up people and if for any reason you need another location you can put it on my property
I voted for Lucy and
Edgartown Voter EdgI voted for Lucy and appreciate her willingness to dig deeper. I am at a loss as to why the administrative assistant is publicly challenging her in the press. That is way out of bounds. I am troubled by the rhetoric from long established members. This whole lives saved, six years is too long garbage is just that. Political garbage, not even slightly believable, and transparent as hell. This is about stuffing the working class neighborhood with the ugly tower so the wealthy home owners near better sites aren't upset. This board has a huge problem with allegiance to the wealthy summer people and corporate interests, like the restaurant maitre de who identifies more with his customers than his own world. I will be voting in more people like
Lucy and voting out the sell outs as long as I live here. Home rule means something. When our leaders roll over to special interests in such a pathetic manner and stuff it to the people who live here in February, it is time for change.
No, it's not time for change.
I vote, too. EdgNo, it's not time for change. It's time for a cell tower. If you think saving lives and public safety is political garbage I'm sorry for you. Six years was too long, and pandered to the minority. Finally the silent majority prevailed. Kudos for the majority of these elected officials FINALLY drawing this to a close. They all will have my vote.
I feel sorry for the town if
Bob EdgartownI feel sorry for the town if we have more people like Lucy on our boards. She’s a newcomer to the board and has no respect for the long-standing members and work that was done before she arrived. If ever there was a slamdunk decision this was it and if this is how she’s going to operate we are in trouble. By the way properties have sold right near the cell tower and the buyers knew about all the plans. Property values have gone up in the area with the cell towers there and that will not change. If special interest is us having cell towers I am very grateful.
Safety is for both summer and
Another Edgartown Voter EdgartownSafety is for both summer and year-round folks. Particularly for the ones who live here in February. I agree with the enough. 6 years is enough time to dig deeper. Time to act and time that we have a functioning cell service on Chappy. How can anyone defend an accident leading to lasting impact because their was no cell service. That has nothing to do with political garbage but all with caring for the people. All of them!
Great news. I often like to
Matt EdgartownGreat news. I often like to call my favorite restaurants and with this tower I can call with ease without the call being dropped. We are now 21st century citizens on Chappy!
I agree with Lucy Morrison.
Jack McCauley West Palm BeachI agree with Lucy Morrison. ATT’s position on Sampson Lane being the “best location” is code and should really read as “it is the cheapest and easiest installation site for us”. Disappointed in the Commision’s woefully superficial due diligence.
No that’s not code, it’s
Josh EdgartownNo that’s not code, it’s exactly what their point of view is and should be.
There goes the neighborhood!
Chappy Conservationist ChappyThere goes the neighborhood! This sets a precedent to break zoning all over Edgartown.
Have any of you, that think
The Shadow ChappyHave any of you, that think Sampson Ave is an appropriate location, actually ever been to Chappaquiddick? It is a largely wooded island with just a couple of densely populated neighborhoods. There is NO reason to site a cell tower in the midst of this neighborhood. There is no reason to destroy people's home values, their life savings in this neighborhood where the majority of year-rounders live. There is no justifiable reason to expose this neighborhood to the 12,600+ watts of radiation emitted by such a tower. There are other sites LEASED by AT&T over a year ago. Sites AT&T testified it was willing to use. Lucy listened to the testimony, read the evidence and came to the only reasonable and rational conclusion anyone could make. There are better, less impactful sites on Chappy for a cell tower.
• 4.34 acres versus 0.5 acres?
• Surrounded by 65.51 acres of town-owned woods versus surrounded by homes?
• 1 home within 500' versus 23 homes within 500'(3 within 130')?
• 59' above sea level versus 19' above sea level (better signal propagation)?
I applaud Lucy Morrison for standing her ground, in a room stacked against her, and for voting for what is right, and fair and just and equitable. Edgartown would be much better off with MORE elected officials like Lucy. Smart, compassionate, open-minded, willing to listen to the facts and make her own conclusions, not the conclusions dictated by some oligarchy.
In the years to come, Lucy Morrison will be proven to be the only official in Edgartown that was on the right side of this issue. Thank you Lucy, keep fighting for what is right!
Point of correction: the MVC
Dean Rosenthal EdgartownPoint of correction: the MVC also approved this site, if I’m not mistaken. That makes two advisory bodies on this Island, including one representing the entire county, both of which apparently got it all wrong over the course of 6 years? Others have noted that property values are still going up and that buyers are aware of the plans. Additionally, what does AT&T get out of putting up a tower in a spot that doesn’t offer the best service for Chappaquiddick? They’re in business and they certainly want to do a good job, it reflects on their reputation and their ability to make money. They get nothing out of doing a poor job. Most of those commenting have certainly spent time on Chappy and the awareness of getting this decision right for safety has been going on for years.
Add new comment