CORNWALL — A suggestion by the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) that a telecommunications advisory committee be appointed was not picked up by the Board of Selectmen.
The selectmen spent considerable time at their May 5 meeting sorting out a motion approved by P&Z and exactly what such a committee would do. They guessed that the idea was to research available technologies and potentially find experts to serve or give advice.
In the end, First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said he would not support seating a committee and asking volunteers to work when the purpose is unclear.
P&Z is trying to figure out its next move in asserting some control over the siting of cell towers in town. Many have been proposed by more than one company. An approved tower for Bell Road Extension that would overlook Popple Swamp Road, may finally be built this spring or summer. Owner Verizon put its plans on hold after a 2010 approval from the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) while it scouted other potential properties. The goal is for full-service coverage here. Putting a tower up ahead of a comprehensive plan could mean denial of other towers deemed essential for that plan.
While the selectmen tried to sort out P&Z minutes from March and April, Land Use Administrator Karen Nelson explained that the commission has determined it will not move forward with any version of previously proposed amendments to its regulations and the Town Plan of Conservation and Development.
Regulations were written when towns had some say in applications. Now it is all within the jurisdiction of the CSC, she said.
“It’s not in the best interest of the commission to spend money on regulating something not within their jurisdiction,” Nelson said.
P&Z spent months and hired planning consultant Tom McGowan to write the proposed amendments.
Resident Joanne Wojtusiak offered a summary of what happened at a public hearing on the proposals that was held March 10 (covered in the March 19 edition of The Lakeville Journal). P&Z members expected to vote on those amendments that night. Instead, they bowed to public concerns about a questionable technology and lack of public input to that point.
Wojtusiak explained last week that P&Z was looking for an alternative technology to suggest to the Siting Council. They wanted to add to their regulations and the town plan the endorsement of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) that would put 20-foot antennas, or repeaters, on utility poles.
She added that McGowan said during the hearing he is not an expert on the DAS technology.
Nelson said McGowan has been asked to consult on a way to move forward.
Ridgway said his board should monitor what is going on with P&Z’s plans and not take action at this time.
