Cell Phone Tower Could be Coming to Winchester

Is a 100-foot tower on the property of the Elks Lodge off of Cambridge Street needed to help improve cell phone reception in Winchester?

This is one of the questions that the tried to answer this week as AT&T came before them in an attempt to gain approval for the construction of a wireless communications tower.

"The tower does not have to be lit or striped," said Edward Pare, the attorney representing AT&T.  "There are no public safety concerns and although there are setbacks that we don't satisfy, the property is owned on both sides by the Elks."

AT&T is hoping that the ZBA will rule that the area around the Elks Lodge is one that is limited industrial. This would allow for the 100-foot tower that they are requesting.  Otherwise zoning guidelines would most likely only allow for a 15-foot structure.

When questioned by Chairman Rich Sampson about the possibility of constructing a smaller structure the representatives from AT&T were strongly opposed. They claim that such a pole would be lower than even many of the trees in the area and would not enhance coverage.

"Well, it wouldn't work as well, but it's a possibility," Rich Sampson said. "You'd just need to have a higher density of 15-foot polls."

When AT&T presented numerous drawings detailing areas in which their customers and T-Mobile subscribers were receiving poor coverage, the chairman contested the findings.

"I'm right in that zone and I have great T-Mobile service," Sampson said.

George Valentine, a real estate appraiser speaking for AT&T, has conducted studies of similar communities where such towers have been built. He addressed residential concerns about a potential reduction in property values.

"It's a good location set back from the street and buffered by trees. It's a business area.  It's not residential," Valentine said. "There is no indication of a diminishing value for homes further away. There are always some concerns initially with people having a fear factor, but when you see it there is no impact on value."

Nevertheless the board encouraged AT&T not to focus simply on their proposed site, but to keep other options open. They suggested using already existing buildings in town along with the need for a submission of a proposal that would cover the use of several 15-foot polls.

"It looks like I have my homework," Edward Pare said.

But it was not just the board that expressed concern about the petition.

"There is a residential area right across the street and a conservation area," said Christine Atkinson, a resident living along Cambridge Street. "Why would you put this tower in a canyon? There is granite on either side, along with high winds. Woburn is probably going to benefit the most from the coverage."

Atkinson also suggested that AT&T has a limited number of subscribers and that the tower would only benefit a small segment on the population. She also expressed some health concerns as well.

With the board needing a significant amount of additional information before rendering a decision, a continuance was approved. On Dec. 21 AT&T will return to press their case before the ZBA.