Mary Johnson File Photo
The Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) approved construction of a cell tower in Branford, (site pictured above) rather than in East Haven, to serve the Short Beach area and adjacent neighborhoods in East Haven.This is the third cell tower approved for Branford in less than three years.
The approval was granted Thursday despite testimony and research from Branford’s consulting engineer stating that the East Haven site would be less intrusive and would serve a greater population. In terms of scenic views, the cell tower will be visible from nearby Parker Memorial Park and several other shoreline areas.
“That’s disappointing,” said First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos when contacted by the Eagle about the decision. “We certainly tried and we still feel the East Haven site served more people.”
DaRos testified at a public hearing in July that Branford’s consultants felt the East Haven site was preferable. “Everything we see tells us the best location for this particular tower is at the firehouse on Short Beach Road,” DaRos told the CSC.
Marcia Chambers Photo
The CSC chose the Branford site (pictured) Thursday afternoon during a meeting at its headquarters in New Britain. Construction cannot begin until AT&T submits Development and Management Plans for the council to review. After the plans are submitted, it typically takes up to eight weeks for CSC approval.
CSC attorney Melanie Bachman said the council voted 7-1 in favor of the Branford site, with one member absent. She said the council felt the Branford tower offered more opportunities for other cell companies to locate on the tower because of its height. The height of the East Haven tower was lowered from 125 feet to 103 feet after the State Historic Preservation Officer said the taller tower would have too much of an impact on the Branford Electric Railway District.
Bachman also said the council felt both tower sites offered similar coverage, but that the Branford site had less of an environmental impact.
East Haven’s town officials did not attend the hearings. Nor did they offer any written comments. Residents of both towns testified that they opposed a cell tower in their neighborhood.
Marcia Chambers Photo
The ruling allows AT&T and North Atlantic Towers to build a 120-foot tower at 171 Short Beach Road. It will be built to the rear of the Air Inc. property, owned by Wayne Krasnow, who operates a heating and air conditioning business at that location. The site is adjacent to a wooded parcel owned by the Branford Land Trust. Click here to read an interview with Krasnow.
Mary Johnson File Photo
The alternate choice was a 103-foot tower that would have been built at 82 Short Beach Road in East Haven, behind the Riverside Volunteer Fire Department. The property is owned by the volunteer firefighters, who would have received rent from AT&T for use of the land.
Three additional hearings were held at CSC headquarters after the initial session in East Haven in July. Click here to read that story.
Short Beach residents have been clamoring for cell phone coverage for several years, but opposed several locations that were suggested. Click here to read about the first site that was proposed in the heart of Short Beach in 2009. AT&T investigated several other locations but rejected them for various reasons.
After Branford was hit with an onslaught of cell tower proposals from Short Beach to Pine Orchard to Stony Creek, the town became pro-active and hired a consultant and attorney who are experts in the field.
BRANFORD’S OPINION
Banford’s experts—attorney Keith R. Ainsworth and engineering consultant David Maxson —- explained their rationale and research in testimony and in a Finding of Fact filed with the CSC. They said the Branford site is less appropriate because the East Haven tower would be lower in height, would have less visual impact to coastal resources and would provide better coverage.
According to Maxson’s testimony, the East Haven facility would provide coverage to 10 percent more of the population than the Branford site.
According to the town’s brief on the CSC Web site, “The applicants have not demonstrated the public need for the Branford tower since the East Haven tower constitutes the least intrusive means to cover the identified significant gaps in coverage.”
Several reasons were listed as to why the East Haven tower is less intrusive: it is shorter, it can be seen by fewer homes; it has less visual impact to beach views, recreational trails, open space, and Long Island Sound views; and it is partially screened by placing it behind the firehouse.
CSC’s FINDINGS OF FACT
The CSC recently filed its draft findings of fact on its website. According to that information, the Branford tower would be seen by 41 residences within a 500 foot radius and 334 residences within a 1,000 foot radius. The East Haven tower would be seen by 83 residences within 500 feet, and 115 residences within 1,000 feet.
It gave a chart listing projected views from several shoreline locations. For example, from Parker Memorial Park, the Branford tower would be visible for 20 feet above the trees; and at Sunset Beach, the tower would be visible at 75 feet above the trees. It said East Haven would have seasonal views from various locations in the nearby Farm River Park. It was projected that neither tower would be visible from the Shoreline Trolley Historic District or the Short Beach Historic District.
According to the findings of fact, AT&T claims that the Branford site offers better coverage to the proposed service area than the East Haven site. AT&T said there would be reliable coverage along Route 142 and adjacent areas, but unreliable coverage in the Cosey Beach area of East Haven. AT&T claims the East Haven site would provide better coverage to Cosey Beach, but it would leave some coverage gaps in areas of Branford including portions of Lanphiers Cover, Sunset Lane, Kenwood Lane, Vineyard Road, Castle Rock Street, Harbor Street and Pawson Park.
According to the CSC findings, Verizon, which will also use the tower, prefers the East Haven site, claiming it provides “slightly better coverage” and serves more people than the Branford site.
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