Milton planners hold off decision on cell tower

Milton Planning and Zoning Commission has tabled a decision on whether to grant a special permitted use to Cellco Partnership to erect a 140-foot cell phone tower with a base in the town’s public works yard on Front Street.

The commission has left the public hearing record on the project open in order to receive more information on design safeguards for the structure.

Milton has been seeking to improve its cell phone coverage throughout town for years. Cellco Partnership, which does business as Verizon Wireless, announced plans in March 2019 to build a tower in Milton at the public works yard at 210 Front St. 

John Tracey, attorney for Cellco Partnership, said the 2.3 acre parcel is owned by the town and is on the east part of the property. One of the reasons for that particular site was to avoid nearby wetlands; Tracey said it took nearly two years for plans to be ready in order to comply with environmental and historic preservation requirements. Because the use is for a public utility, the town’s zoning code requires a special use permit. 

Tracey said the new tower will help keep up with the demand for cell service as people have become more and more reliant on their cell phones. 

Andrew Pierson, engineer for the project, said the tower will increase both service coverage and capacity. He said as cell service has expanded in the Milton area, coverage has shrunk because more and more people are using the network. 

“When you’re in any type of crowded area, you see that spinning wheel on your phone when you are trying to send a text message or access data service. That will extend to a simple phone call because the network demand is so high,” Pierson said.

The tower will help provide a clearer, stronger signal, he said. 

Pierson said the tower would help coverage become strong all over town. Verizon engineers have said that installing a cell site on the town’s water tower or at the fire station would not provide the kind of coverage the company wants. The tower will be enclosed in a 50-by-50 foot area with a six-foot high fence. 

During the public comment period, the project met with opposition.

Union Street resident and town council candidate Allen Sangree said the tower would dominate the skyline of Milton’s historic district, and its construction is incompatible with the town’s comprehensive development plan. 

“Good idea, wrong location,” Sangree said. 

He said Tidewater is moving the wastewater treatment plant away from the waterfront to Sam Lucas Road, with that land slated to be redeveloped into a waterfront park. Sangree said it would be a shame to see this new park overshadowed by a 140-foot tower. 

Barry Goodinson, former chairman of the commission, said the tower would be an unsightly addition to the neighborhood. 

“What does the town signal by putting a tower in that location? This is where the historic core, the downtown commercial core and the waterfront all come together and we’re talking about plopping down a cell tower there. What we’re signalling is that none of these things matter to Milton,” he said. “Do not let this move forward.”

Heritage Creek resident Richard Wells was supportive of the project, saying cell service in Milton needs improvement. 

The commission has not set a time to resume debate on the matter; their next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 16.