
Town
eyes 'emergency' communications tower TEWKSBURY -- The town wants
to build a 90-foot-high "emergency communications tower" on Ames Hill,
just three months after Town Meeting instituted a one-year moratorium on the construction
of new wireless communications facilities. Town officials argue that the Ames Hill tower, which
would serve the Fire Department and other town departments, does not fall under
the moratorium because it would not be for commercial use. The Planning
Board is scheduled to take up the proposal during its meeting MondayAugust 14
at 7:15 p.m. Plans call for the tower to be erected off 158 Catamount Road,
near two underground water tanks that are owned by the city. A 6-by-8-foot building
would be erected near the tower, according to drawings submitted to the Community
Development Office. The tower would be part of a planned townwide communications
system that relies on microwave technology, according to Fire Chief Richard Mackey.
Using microwaves would improve existing voice, data and video transmissions, Town
Manager David Cressman wrote in a town newsletter. "This is state of
the art," Mackey said. "This would benefit the whole town." But
at least one resident has already questioned the proposal, calling the proposed
tower an "eyesore." "Needless to say, I do not wish it to
be built so close to my property line," Catamount Road resident James Meehan
wrote in a letter to the town. "I'm concerned about the view factor, property
values and activity at the site." |