Community Corner

Short Beach Road Cell Tower Public Hearing Tuesday (DOCUMENTS)

AT&T has proposed two potential sites for a new cell tower along Short Beach Road — one in Branford and an alternative site in East Haven — to fill in the current service gap in the area.

UPDATE at 5:45 p.m.

It appears that two government councils have scheduled public meetings at the for the same time on Tuesday night.

In addition to the Connecticut Siting Council's public hearing on the proposed Short Beach Road cell tower, the has also scheduled a at the center.

Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Both are set to begin at 7 p.m.

The Town Council's regularly scheduled meeting for July 3 was cancelled last week and rescheduled as a special meeting for July 10.

Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It is unclear at this time which, if any, of the two meetings will be moved due to the conflict. East Haven Patch will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

ORIGINAL STORY

The state is holding a public hearing Tuesday to gather comments and feedback from East Haven and Branford residents regarding a proposed new cell tower along Short Beach Road.

The Connecticut Siting Council is currently considering an application from North Atlantic Towers and New Cingular Wireless (a subsidiary of AT&T) for the construction of a telecommunications facility at one of two potential sites:

  • 171 Short Beach Road in Branford, or
  • 82 Short Beach Road in East Haven

The Branford location, which would feature a tower at about 120 feet, is the site of the small business .

And the alternative East Haven spot, which would feature a tower at about 103 feet, is the location for the .

The deadline for the siting council to deliver its decision on the application is Oct. 9

'Significant Gaps in Service'

According to AT&T officials, the tower is needed to fill in a large service hole along this portion of the shoreline.

"Without a site in this area, at the height requested, significant gaps in service will exist within the Town of East Haven and the Town of Branford, and the identified public need for reliable wireless services in this area will not be met," the officials wrote as part of their application.

Several documents reviewing the project, including AT&T's application, are posted in the gallery that accompanies this article.

Additional documentation — including simulations of various views of the tower throughout the area — can be found on the council's website.

Tuesday's Public Hearing

The public hearing will take place at the starting at 3 p.m. There will be a break for dinner, and the second half of the hearing will resume at 7 p.m.

According to the hearing's notice, which is posted in the gallery, the afternoon session will serve as an opportunity for "applicants, parties and intervenors to cross-examine positions."

And the evening session will allow residents to make brief statements into the application's public record.

In addition, prior to the public hearing the siting council will conduct a "field review"  of both locations on Tuesday, starting at 2 p.m. at the Branford site.

During this time, AT&T will be flying a balloon to simulate the height of each proposed cell tower.

East Haven Site Overview

The proposed facility at the East Haven Site consists of a 2,500 square-foot lease area located in the south-west portion of an approximately 0.91 acre parcel owned by the Riverside Volunteer Fire Department.

A new self-supporting monopole tower 103’ in height would be constructed. AT&T will install up to 12 panel antennas at the 100’ centerline height on the tower.

The tower compound will consist of a 2,500 square-foot fenced area to accommodate AT&T's 12’ x 20’ radio equipment shelter and a 4' x 11' concrete pad for AT&T's emergency generator.

An 8-foot high chain link fence would enclose the tower compound. The tower and compound are designed for future shared use by other carriers.

Vehicle access to the facility will be provided from Short Beach Road along the western side of the existing parking lot a distance of approximately 150'. Electric and telephone utilities would be extended from Short Beach Road.

Branford Site Overview

The proposed facility at the Branford Site consists of a 50’ by 50’ lease area located in the north- west portion of an approximately 0.87 acre parcel owned by 171 Short Beach Road Realty, LLC. A new self-supporting monopole tower 120’ in height would be constructed.

AT&T will install up to 12 panel antennas at the 120’ centerline height on the tower. The tower compound will consist of a 50' x 50' fenced area to accommodate AT&T's 12’ x 20’ radio equipment shelter and a 4' x 11' concrete pad for AT&T's emergency generator.   

An 8-foot high chain link fence would enclose the tower compound. The tower and compound are designed for future shared use by other carriers.

Vehicle access to the facility will be provided from Short Beach Road over an existing 15-foot wide gravel access drive a distance of approximately 240'. Electric and telephone utilities would be extended from existing utilities adjacent to the proposed compound area.


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