Balloon test data to be presented at cell tower meeting Aug. 20

CORNWALL — An informational meeting has been set for Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall to review Verizon’s plans for a telecommunications tower on a hillside above Popple Swamp Road. It will include a report on at least one balloon test conducted in the past week.

Large, red, helium-filled balloons were raised at two proposed sites Aug. 5.

Mike Koperwhats of VHB Engineering spent the day putting up the balloons, monitoring them, taking photos and collecting data. He plans to be back for another test in which he will hike some of the trails within the potential view shed.

Koperwhats said the balloons were not visible from Popple Swamp Road, but mostly at lower elevations, from Route 4 near Foote Fields. That was confirmed by a number of residents.

He suspected the second test would show visibility is much more prevalent from hiking trails.

“I will also be able to run a predictive model, using the tower height and mapping of the surrounding terrain to get an idea of what views will be from places, such as private property, where we can’t go for a visual test,� Koperwhats said.

He allayed concerns that the balloons may have been placed at approximate sites, rather than exact locations. That has allegedly been the case in other area towns.

Koperwhats explained survey maps, landmarks and, finally, a GPS unit are used to get to the exact spots. He said hiking into the locations was not difficult.

His report and photos will be completed in time to be presented at the Aug. 20 meeting.

There are two questions that continually come up. By way of answer, only one tower will built. Verizon is submitting plans for two: the site originally proposed in 2007 and another above the end of Bell Road Ext.

They prefer the second site, but know the Connecticut Siting Council strongly recommends applicants provide at least one alternative site.

Secondly, town officials and residents will have input, but there will be no formal decisions made locally, either by the general public or planning and wetlands commissions. The siting council’s first meeting on the application, a decision process that could take up to a year, will be held in Cornwall, where public comment will be sought.

Elaine Labella, director of Land Protection for Housatonic Valley Association, is following the plans closely and has already expressed her concerns about potential problems with hillside access roads. The area already has difficulties with stability. Landslides and what LaBella called an inevitable increase in runoff will head directly to wetlands below.