Farmington Town Officials, Residents Oppose 180-Foot Tower Plan

Image via Siting Council documents is of a simulated tower.

Town officials and residents are fighting a proposal for a 180-foot tower that would be used for cellular reception and training exercises.

Tower Holdings LLC has proposed the tower be built at 199 Brickyard Road.

The area is zoned so that structures over 40 feet generally aren’t permitted. However, cell phone towers are subject to the approval of the Siting Council. Tower Holdings has partnered with AT&T for the antennas.

Some neighbors feel that the cellular antennas were tacked on to the project to circumvent the local zoning board.

“The main point these people are circumventing our town zoning laws,” said Demetrios Giannaros whose house is nearby the proposed tower. “That’s the violation we see as unacceptable.”

Town officials have also testified at Siting Council meetings in opposition to the proposal. The applicant approached the town planning and zoning commission about the plan, but withdrew an application in anticipation of opposition, said William Warner, town planner.

“They didn’t hide the fact that it would be used for training and wouldn’t build it if it couldn’t be used for training,” he said. “Their attorneys claim because it has a cell tower component State Siting Council has exclusive jurisdiction and town has no say on the matter.”

Town officials disagree and are awaiting a decision from the council.

Jesse Langer, attorney for Tower Holdings said the siting council has exclusive jurisdiction over the project.

“Tower Holdings respects the Council’s exclusive jurisdiction, but met with the Town on several occasions, including two public information meetings, because Tower Holdings and its affiliates have been long time corporate residents of the Town and they wanted to be good corporate neighbors,” she said.

Giannaros said that perhaps the town could’ve recommended an alternative site that would be less intrusive had the company gone through the local process. He also said that he’s never had a problem with AT&T reception in the area and questioned whether a less intrusive antenna would remedy any coverage issues.

Northeast Towers President Steve Savino said at a Siting Council meeting that he has been in the industry for 38 years and know there’s needed coverage in the area.

“And it would be foolish for me to think that I’m just going to build a training facility and not want to put antennas on it,” he said. “And if we build something that would be a prime spot to satisfy any future carriers or antenna needs.”

He added that the company withdrew from the local meeting because it was anticipating an informal meeting and was not prepared to present at a formal meeting.

Town Manager Kathy Eagen said the training tower was a “needless facility” and that the town doesn’t want to be in the place of having to respond to any accidents at the large facility.

Neighbors are circulating a petition against the tower and are planning protests in the future, Giannaros said.

Residents can offer public comment to the Siting Council in writing or in person. More information here at bottom of the page. Residents and others can comment until April 17.