Select Board approves lease with Wireless Edge for Walden Street cell tower; carriers, timeline discussed

The Select Board voted April 28 to approve a lease with Wireless Edge Towers for construction and operation of a telecommunications tower at 755 Walden Street, a step the town took after a competitive request-for-proposals process ordered by a 2024 town meeting citizen petition.

Town staff described a procurement and review process that included town counsel, the town's RF consultant and public-safety staff. John Arthur, president of Wireless Edge, told the board he has received preliminary interest from AT&T and Verizon for the site and said the plan "is designed for, up to 5 major carriers, plus public safety, the town's equipment, for example." Arthur said the site typically draws interest from T‑Mobile and one other major carrier once two carriers commit.

The company estimated a timeline of roughly nine months from permits to a working site, with planning and a separate federal NEPA review taking several months, fabrication taking two to two-and-a-half months and on-site erection about a month once permits and materials are in hand. Arthur added that construction typically takes about a month once a building permit is issued.

Select Board members asked about subleasing and how carriers will be solicited. Town staff and Wireless Edge said Wireless Edge will build the tower and handle subleases; Arthur said the RFP and the procurement process had already generated carrier interest. The board also discussed public-safety use of the tower and whether Concord’s emergency communications would be able to place equipment on the structure; staff said the town is talking with its consultants to identify town equipment needs.

Town bylaw limits freestanding telecommunications structures to 150 feet; the board discussed how additional height and longer lease terms may be governed by a pending town-meeting article that would permit leases of up to 30 years. The lease approved April 28 provides an initial 10-year term with renewal options (the lease includes 5-year renewal terms to extend the occupancy to 25 years under current authority). That structure reflects current town authority to sign a 10-year term with renewal options, and the town manager noted the town-meeting article under consideration could expand authority to allow longer terms.

Board members voted to approve the lease agreement. Select Board Chair Mark Howell emphasized the project aligns with a board priority to improve cell service in parts of Concord; town staff said maps provided by carriers show the site filling a notable coverage gap around the high school and Route 2 corridor.