Clarity sought on cell tower plans

CORNWALL — Plans for a Verizon cellular communications tower off of Bell Road Extension moved forward with the submission of a Development and Management Plan Sept. 6.The Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) approved a conditional Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need two years ago. It was good for 18 months, and the agency has since granted an extension to parent company Cellco that gives them until Oct. 25, 2013, to complete construction.Cellco’s attorney previously told The Lakeville Journal that the delay was a function of sorting out where to best site numerous towers to achieve maximum service coverage in this problematic area, which has hills that block cell signals.Statewide, seven other Verizon tower site permits are pending before the Siting Council, including one in Falls Village. All are similar situations, with Verizon addressing remote areas with hilly terrain.The small clearing for the 110-foot tower and equipment building did not raise any concerns. But the CSC returned an answer on Sept. 14 with 11 questions all having to do with the 1,420-foot-long access road. Clarification is being sought on drainage and runoff control during construction, and concerns that property lines are not clearly defined.“Is there any provision for directing the contractor to complete all work within the property boundary? Will an onsite preconstruction meeting be conducted?” the CSC wanted to know.The Board of Selectmen reviewed a map of the site at its Sept. 18 meeting. It was the A2 survey requested by the Siting Council because of concerns over the lack of land records to define former roads and property lines.A petition submitted to the selectmen this summer by Matthew Collins, whose property adjoins the tower site (and was initially considered for the proposed tower) asked for a recreational designation for Bell Road Extension, which was originally known as Old Poughkeepsie Turnpike. It was signed by more than 200 residents. An expert hired by Collins to search land records could not find conclusive information on either the exact location of the road or whether or not the town had abandoned its ownership. If it had, the land would be deeded, from the center line, to properties on either side.The town attorney reviewed the matter and the selectmen followed his advice to take no action, at least until Verizon’s A2 survey was done. Under state law, the sought-after designation can only apply to abandoned roads.The Siting Council has requested a response to its questions by Oct. 10.Complete information on the project is available at www.ct.gov/csc, under “Pending proceedings” and Docket No. 402.