Sharon ZBA OKs AT&T Cell Tower For East Foxboro Street

The Sharon Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday night OK'd AT&T's request for a 120-foot wireless communications tower at -- but at the proposed site further away from Sharon's Well 6.

Acting Chairman Kevin McCarville, member Lee Wernick and alternate Seth Ruskin voted for the request in front of a standing-room-only audience in the Sharon Town Offices' second-floor meeting room. The vote included a condition: that the pole be camouflaged.

McCarville suggested supporting the pole site further away from Well 6.

"I understand that we cannot make everybody happy," he said.

"We know that our hands are tied. We can only deal with what has been put before us."

The vote came after a public hearing process that McCarville said lasted "pretty darn close to two years."

AT&T attorney Edward Pare Jr. closed the hearing Wednesday at McCarville's request.

Afterward, Pare referred Sharon Patch to AT&T for comment.

And attorney Christopher Heep, representing a group of abutters, said the vote did not surprise him.

He said he and his clients would review their options.

Wednesday, McCarville declined a request from Heep to present comments that the attorney submitted in writing in January.

McCarville said Heep can file information to be added to the case later.

Moments earlier, McCarville said the board has been "very empathetic" and done its due diligence and listened to the abutters.

He said he had spoken with town counsel, who said the board's decision "would be defensible."

Also, at AT&T's request, the board continued its public hearing on AT&T's proposed site at 68 Mohawk St. until June 13.