NORTH SMITHFIELD – American Tower has received the go ahead from members of the Planning Board to erect a new permanent cell phone tower to provide coverage for three of the area’s service providers.
A 140-foot-tall tower at 51 Industrial Drive will accommodate T-Mobile, AT & T and Verizon Wireless, with removal planned for a slightly taller 145-foot temporary structure, used since the previous antenna was removed from a town-owned water tank on Comstock Road.
“It’s a very similar situation to the temporary facility,” explained Edward Pare of Brown Rudnick LLP, representing American Tower, a Massachusetts-based business that owns and manages wireless communication infrastructure throughout the United States.
Pare was before the board last May seeking approval for the temporary infrastructure, a project necessitated by refurbishment of the water tank, which long held previous facilities.
“ATC and the carriers worked cooperatively with the town of North Smithfield for many months to accommodate this request at significant cost to ATC and disruption to the carriers,” noted a letter with the application.
The permanent tower will be situated to the northeast of the temporary location on a 6.7 acre property owned by MJJB Development, LLC, a business registered to New England Truck Solutions owner Jason Jarvis. American Tower will lease a 50 X 50 foot space from Jarvis, utilizing existing access to the property from Comstock Road.
Pare said the unmanned facility is needed to maintain local service.
“The facility is critical to maintaining reliable and cutting-edge wireless communication services in and around the town of North Smithfield but especially in the area around the site,” noted the letter signed by Pare. “To replicate the existing coverage in the area, the facility must be located within the general vicinity of the tank and at a height to replicate the coverage and avoid interference from the tank itself.”
According to a coverage map, the tower will not serve the southern part of town.
“You get blockage from the terrain,” Pare said.
The three providers also provided letters committing to co-location, as required by town ordinance.
“The purpose of that is to limit the number of cell towers that you have in your community,” explained Town Planner Mark Carrulo of the town law.
Pare noted the tower will be built to accommodate four providers, and that Dish Wireless may also sign on.
“The facility will not generate any additional noise, traffic, odor, fumes, glare, smoke, or dust or require additional lighting or signage,” the letter noted. “The facility will have no negative impact on property values in the area. No increase in traffic or hindrance to pedestrian movements will result from the facility.”
Planner Lucien Benoit asked Pare to elaborate on the question of the tower’s potential effect on property values, a subject of concern for some neighbors at a previous meeting.
“The cell towers just don’t have negative impacts on property values,” replied Pare, pointing to a report on the topic from an appraiser, also submitted with the application.
During public hearing, Frank Lombardo, a resident of Laurel Woods, expressed concern about rays coming off the tower, and Pare explained that the FCC governs frequency emissions, mandating limits.
The project required a dimensional variance from the 500 foot setback requirement and a special use permit to be constructed on the lot, which is zoned manufacturing. Planners unanimously approved both, along with granting development plan review.
