by Doug La Rocque
The application to increase the height of the Verizon Wireless cell tower under construction on land at the corner of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane by 20 feet was on the agenda for the Brunswick Planning Board meeting on Thursday, March 3, although no representatives were in attendance. It was disclosed at the meeting the application for the increase was actually made by the contractor, not the applicant. As to the contractor’s status to make such an application, that appears to be up in the air at this point and is being researched by the Planning Board’s attorney Andy Gilchrist. The application also noted there would not be an extension of the time frame the Planners had to determine the completeness of the application. That is currently being handled by the Board’s engineer Wayne Bonesteel. The contractor also claimed the proposed extension did not require any further environmental assessment, again something the Board is calling into question. It is hoped Mr. Bonesteel and Mr. Gilchrist can provide some answers at the March 17 meeting.
The current site use permit calls for an 85-foot tower, disguised as a pine tree and placed in a grove of trees to reduce the visibility factor. The original application was met with vehement public dissent when it was proposed at 105 feet, the same height the contractor now wants to take it to.
More Solar
Atlas Renewables made a presentation concerning their plans to construct a commercial solar installation on property located off Oakwood Avenue and Farrell Road. Originally planned to be built over a former incinerator site, the site plan is being moved somewhat because of the cost associated with a Department of Environmental Conservation permit. They will return when weather permits more wetland studies to be completed.