Orange residents who made the trek to Shelton to voice their concerns about a proposed cell tower at 831 Milford Derby Road said they do not necessarily want the tower denied. They’d just like to see it moved a little closer to the property owner’s house.
The proposed tower would service Verizon’s data network, expanding 4G coverage in the area. It is not intended to increase cell reception as it is felt Verizon has adequate coverage in theregion.
“I had my office call me, and the call came through and I could see that it was the office phone number. But I had a very hard time hearing what my secretary was trying to say,” First Selectman James Zeoli told the crowd and Connecticut Siting Council members during the meeting. He said he made the call from driveway of the Bespuda family, who own the farmland proposed for the Verizon tower.
Zeoli’s anecdotal evidence diminished though when he noted he uses AT&T cellular service and not Verizon. While the tower can hold antennae for an additional three carriers, there are no plans for that at this time. In fact, representatives for Verizon told the council earlier in the day that they had reached out to the other carriers in the region and there was no interest from them in sharing the tower.
Zeoli was the final member of the public to speak at the Connecticut Siting Council meeting, where residents had an opportunity to voice their thoughts and concerns about the proposed tower. The other nine speakers were all Rainbow Trail residents who abut the farmland the tower is proposed for.
A particular sticking point for several of the Rainbow Trail residents is that their homes, with values up to $1 million, sit on property originally bought from the Bespudas. They said they feel it is horribly unfair for the Bespuda family to sell them property and then after they build their homes, diminish their values by contracting for this tower.
If approved, the tower at 831 Milfrod Derby Road would be the first cell tower in Orange not located on town-owned property. The Bespuda family would make a profit on allowing Verizon to operate the tower, which Zeoli estimated at $30,000.
Many were displeased to learn that the Siting Council scheduled the meeting for Shelton instead of Orange.
“I personally called the First Selectman’s offfice, and I was told that they could not accomodate the time and date we asked for,” Siting Council Stafff Attorney Melanie Bachman said.
Zeoli said his office did not get the call and would have worked to find the Siting Council space in Orange for the meeting. Furthermore, Sen. Gale Slossberg sent the council a letter in June, requesting they reconsider the Shelton location.
She, along with other legislators, has also requested the Siting Council consider other locations.
A follow up meeting will be scheduled at the council’s New Britain offices. Residents who would like to voice their concerns can call or submit letters to the council.