The debate over whether to allow a cell tower on town-owned property at 140 Botsford Road got a bit more complicated March 18.
AT&T wants to replace a 160-foot communications tower at the Great Hill Hose Co. fire house with a 165-foot cell tower.
The application has drawn stiff opposition from neighbors, who say a cell tower doesn’t belong in a residential neighborhood. Volunteers from the fire house, citing the opposition from neighbors, have also urged Seymour Selectmen to reject the deal, which would see the town receive $18,000 in rent.
But the application has drawn the support of several town leaders, including the chief of police, who say the tower will improve communications in town.
The Board of Selectmen haven’t offered an official opinion either way — and there’s no word on when they may vote on the matter, as they are continuing to “research” the issue.
The cell tower topic was raised during a Selectmen’s meeting March 18, although it was not listed as a topic of discussion on the meeting’s agenda.
Karen Stanek, a member of the Board of Selectmen, said she regretted not simply voting to reject the application during a previous meeting.
“I want to say publicly I agree, I wish the cell phone tower would go away,” Stanek said.
But, the issue isn’t black and white, said Seymour Town Attorney Richard J. Buturla.
Under state law, the town has little control over the placement of cell towers. It is up to the Connecticut Siting Council, Buturla pointed out.
In this particular case, the town has some leverage because AT&T wants to put the tower on town property.
If the town flat out tells AT&T to jump in a lake, the communications giant simply go to private property and apply directly to the Siting Council, officials said.
That would cut Seymour government out of the picture in terms of regulating the tower.
“The issue is a lot more complex than has been discussed,” Buturla said.
Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller and the town attorney have been meeting with cell tower consultants, and the town still has many questions over the issue.
In an interview Wednesday, March 19, Miller said that flat-out rejecting the cell tower now could actually help the tower go up elsewhere in the same neighborhood.
Miller said the town’s in a tough spot, and is researching the matter extensively to look for options. The town still doesn’t have enough information to make a decision on the cell tower, he said.
At the same time, the First Selectman indicated the town is still negotiating with AT&T, and the $18,000 annual rent offer is “extremely low,” Miller said.
