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![TMCNet: Belvidere residents oppose wireless tower [The Sun, Lowell, Mass.]](http://images.tmcnet.com/siteart/invisible.gif)
Belvidere residents oppose wireless tower [The Sun, Lowell, Mass.]
(Sun (Lowell, MA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 10--LOWELL -- A controversial proposal to build a steeple on an Andover Street church in order to house telecommunications equipment has been out on hold until January, giving the Zoning Board of Appeals timed to secure a peer review.
Clear Wireless, a wireless broadband provider looking to launch service in the Boston market within the next six months, requested special permits to install their equipment in five locations throughout the city. Four of the five locations are on existing structures that already host equipment owned by other providers.
The company is proposing to build a steeple onto the existing Lowell Mission Church at 403 Andover St. Its equipment would then be installed within the steeple, which will extend about 55 feet above the ground. There is currently an empty steeple base on the church.
Andrew Thompson, a site-acquisition agent for Clear Wireless, explained that the frequency band provided to the company by the Federal Communications Commission allows for a smaller service area radius than those used by bigger companies. Therefore, they need more equipment locations than those companies.
He added that the initial analysis of the city's Belvidere neighborhood showed three possible locations at which to locate equipment allowing service to the area. The sites were the Reilly and Sullivan Schools, and the church.
Thompson said he spoke to Superintendent of Schools Chris Scott and was told that the School Department was not
interested.
ZBA Chairman Stephen Geary questioned whether Thompson had considered less residential areas, such as commercial buildings on Rogers Street, the Hannaford supermarket, Longmeadow golf course, Belvidere Apartments or Brooks Pharmacy.
"This is the best facility we could possibly provide short of putting up a new tower in the city," Thompson responded, reiterating that the company's coverage radius is very limited. "The FCC license requires us to provide a certain level of reliable service and coverage to customers, and we need to build out enough sites to do that."
Geary added that he thinks the board should seek a peer review from a consulting engineer "to verify what you are telling us. In my mind I am not satisfied hat you have exhausted all possible locations."
More than a dozen neighbors, including City Councilor Jim Milinazzo, attended the meeting opposing the plan.
Attorney Ray Weicker, representing Pentucket Avenue resident James Hall, told the board that in Andover and on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, telecommunications equipment is housed in coffee-can sized cylinders mounted on existing telephone polls.
Weicker agreed with Geary that a peer review is necessary.
"The courts are clear that the petitioner must exhibit that they have exhausted every other possible opportunity," he said.
The public hearing has been continued until the board's first meeting in January, the date of which has not been set.
To see more of The Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.lowellsun.com.
Copyright (c) 2009, The Sun, Lowell, Mass.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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