Cellular phone company T-Mobile Northeast LLC is hoping to move forward with construction of a 120-foot telecommunications tower and facility in New Canaan. Before it can, it must take its case to the public, proving that there is a need for the tower and that it will not interfere with the surrounding environment.
The Connecticut Siting Council announced last week that it has scheduled a public hearing for the company to do just that July 13 at Town Hall.
T-Mobile said in its application that the tower would fix a gap in coverage along Valley Road and Silvermine Road, just east of Route 23, as well as the surrounding area.
The company had previously received approval to build the proposed facility at 208 Valley Road back in 2004, but because too much time has passed since then it must reapply. If the company receives approval, it plans to build the tower in 13 weeks.
The company plans to build the tower on land leased from the Silver Hill Hospital on the organizations 42-acre property. In the formal application, the company said the project does not expect to have any negative environmental impact or interference with the facility. T-Mobile claims the tower, which will appear to be a single pole from the outside while housing multiple antennas, will be as inconspicuous as possible.
In a test performed for the first application, T-Mobile found that the proposed tower will be shielded from most views by the dense trees surrounding the area. The company claims that the structure will only be visible year-round from an eight-acre area that includes only four homes, but both of those figures will triple during some seasons.
The tower would be visible from parts of Valley Road, Wardwell Drive, Turning Mill Lane, Huckleberry Hill Road, and Thayer Drive for all or part of the year. Just before the July 13 hearing, T-Mobile will raise a balloon the height of the proposed structure to show where it will be visible.
The hearing will be split into two parts. First, in the afternoon, town and state officials, T-Mobile representatives and opponents of the construction will give formal arguments for or against the facility. Then, at 7 p.m., the public will have the opportunity to make brief statements.
Individuals are encouraged to participate through their elected officials, and other party/intervenor groupings, said the siting council in its announcement of the hearing.
Those who would like to formally register as intervenors must submit a written application to the CSC at: Connecticut Siting Council, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, Conn., 06051, before July 6.
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