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TMCNet: Westford: Not in our backyards

[March 16, 2010]

Westford: Not in our backyards

WESTFORD, Mar 16, 2010 (The Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- James Alibrandi and the residents in the neighborhood surrounding the Francis Hill water tower on Hunt Road are hoping the Planning Board hears them loud and clear -- cell-phone towers have no business in resident's backyards.

Last night, Planning Board Chairman Mike Green continued the public hearing to Monday. The board is debating whether to recommend an article on the Town Meeting warrant.

Article 27 is a citizen's petition asking the town to amend a zoning bylaw relating to the site of the wireless-communications facility or cell-phone tower. The petitioners are asking that any new cell-phone tower not be built within 900 feet of an existing dwelling, school, day-care center, nursing home or assisted-living facility. Also, the base of all new towers should be no closer than 300 feet of a residential zoning district boundary or dwelling.

The article will be before the 11,000 registered voters in Westford at Town Meeting on Saturday, March 27. The article was spurred by a proposal to place a cell-phone tower on top of the water tower.

OmniPoint Communications a subsidiary of wireless carrier T-Mobile, was already denied a special permit in November to install six to nine panels of antennas on top of the water tank.

The proposal also included a transmitter and receiver at the base of the tower near the Westford-Chelmsford line, with an air conditioner to cool it and an 8-foot stockade fence surrounding it. OmniPoint has appealed the decision, citing unlawful denial.

"We're not opposed to cell-phone towers, but you can't put one in someone's backyard," Alibrandi said. "This is to protect the town and the future." Alibrandi's home is about 400 feet from the water tank. Roy Jacobus' home on Baldwin Road is only about 70 feet from the water tank.

Attorney Paul Alphen represented a dozen abutters at the meeting last fall. He said the proposed tower would affect the quality of life of the residents in the area and harm property values. Other concerns were with noise generated from the transmitter's cooling station at the base of the water tank, the negative visual aesthetic and questions about health issues.

Board member Fred Palmer said he was not opposed to the article, however he questioned how it might affect existing cell phone towers. Palmer said there are currently eight other cell phone towers in Westford including one at the Haystack Observatory and another near the Prospect Hill area.

"I would be opposed if anything happened to the Haystack or Prospect tower. How would they be impacted by this," Palmer asked.

Director of Land Use Management Angus Jennings said this was a conversation that should be continued. He said there is an opportunity to possibly exempt existing facilities in the language of the bylaws. Jennings said the town should also come up with a list of sites where cell towers could potentially be allowed without any issue.

"We set priorities for Angus to work on a review of locations this summer," said board member Andrea Peraner-Sweet. "It's on our radar screen." To see more of The Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.lowellsun.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Sun, Lowell, Mass. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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