BY SUSAN WARE

The Hooksett Zoning Board of Adjustment has scheduled a public site walk for Monday, Aug. 6, at 5:30 p.m., and has requested that Omnipoint Communications/T-Mobile fly a red balloon at the height of the proposed cell tower during the walk so neighbors can see the actual height. The board is meeting in front of the residence at 305 Bicentennial Drive.

The wireless carrier was represented at  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. More than 75 people who live near the proposed site turned out for the hearing.

Tracy Murphy Roche, chairman of the board, told the applicant several times the application was incomplete. In addition to the site walk, she requested an independent study on what the cell tower will do to neighbors’ property values and  a complete list of cell towers in New Hampshire, cell towers within a two-mile range of the state’s border, complete with exact location, height and design.

As part of the variance application, a list of alternative sites was provided by the wireless carrier. Other less suitable options included  the Southern New Hampshire University campus and Livingston Park in Manchester. Omnipoint Communications/T-Mobile is scheduled to appear again Sept. 11.