BY SUSAN WARE
Residents of the Bicentennial Drive neighborhood turned out to hear Omnipoint Communications/T-Mobile explain why their neighborhood is the best place for a cell tower that will rise 395 feet above their homes.
The wireless carrier was before the Hooksett Zoning Board of Adjustment on Tuesday, July 17, seeking variances to allow the tower to be built at 305 Bicentennial Drive, in a medium-density residential district and to forgive rear and side setbacks.
Adam Braillard, an attorney with Prince, Lobel, Glovsky & Tye who is representing the applicant said that Omnipoint/T-Mobile is certain that the Bicentennial Drive location was the best option for the wireless carrier.
“Because of the unique topographical characteristics of this site, we feel that we should be granted a variance from the bylaws,” said Braillard.
Board member Ron Savoie questioned whether the wireless carrier had done its homework in regards to suitability of the location and flight patterns.
Chris Pearson, zoning board member, questioned what effect the cell tower would have on property values and why all of the photos were taken in the summer when the trees were full of leaves.
“There are lots of potential sites, much better than this one, that I think you people have missed, and this would be nice to know before you build in a residential area,” said Savoie while the audience clapped in approval.
As part of the variance application, a list of alternative sites was provided and Braillard told the board that the Southern New Hampshire University campus was one, and Livingston Park in Manchester, the other.
Braillard and Sameer Parakkavetty, a wireless engineer, went through the entire variance application with the board, and several times chairman Tracy Murphy Roche told them it was incomplete.
Murphy Roche told the applicant that simply saying a cell tower would not affect property values was not enough, and the board wants an independent study done as part of the application. Also, the board is requiring a complete list of cell towers in New Hampshire, and cell towers within a 2-mile range of the state’s border, complete with exact location, height and design.
The board has scheduled a public site walk for Monday, Aug. 6, at 5:30 p.m., and has requested that the wireless carrier fly a red balloon at the height of the proposed tower during the walk so neighbors can see the actual height.
The site of the proposed tower was owned by Lambros Theodosopoulos, but is now owned by a real estate trust. His son Bill Theodosopoulos is listed on the application as the contact person.
Murphy Roche tabled the application until Sept. 11, when a special meeting will be held.