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Commission backs 195-foot monopole in Churchland after public concerns about trees and RF exposure
Summary
A use permit to construct a 195-foot telecommunications monopole at West Norfolk Road was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission; the applicant said Verizon will be the initial carrier and the site will accommodate up to four carriers. One neighbor spoke against the proposal citing tree removal and health concerns about RF emissions.
The Portsmouth Planning Commission on Aug. 5 recommended approval of a use permit for a 195-foot monopole telecommunications tower at a vacant parcel at the intersection of West Norfolk Road and Old Coast Guard Boulevard in the Churchland area.
Principal planner Valerie Malzone told the commission the one-acre parcel is mostly wooded and in the general residential zoning district. The proposal calls for a 195-foot monopole topped with a 4-foot lightning rod and ground-level equipment cabinets within a roughly 3,500-square-foot lease area, enclosed by six-foot opaque fencing. The applicant submitted an aeronautical study from the Federal Aviation Administration stating the tower would not pose a hazard to air navigation.
Malzone said staff identified an existing city-owned tower about 750 feet west of the proposed site but that the city tower is owned and used by the Department of Information Technology and is not available for colocation. Staff recommended approval with conditions, concluding the proposed use provides a needed public service and that no existing alternative facility could reasonably host the antennas.
Applicant agent Rick Hartman of Pyramid Network Services said Verizon will be the first carrier and the tower is designed for up to four carriers. During public comment Donna Biggs of Garland Drive asked whether trees would be removed and raised concerns about 5G radio-frequency emissions; she also asked about the nearby city-owned tower. Hartman and staff said the site is proposed in response to carrier coverage and capacity needs identified by Verizon, and Malzone noted the aeronautical study and the zoning review.
Commissioners moved to approve the permit with conditions; the commission recorded the recommendation and the item will be forwarded to City Council. The commission announced the motion as approved; the final vote tally was recorded in the meeting log and will be included in the formal minutes.
Why it matters: The monopole will increase local cellular capacity and coverage in Churchland and has raised local concerns about tree removal and RF exposure, which fall under federal regulation for emissions and local land-use review for siting and screening.
Next steps: The Planning Commission’s recommendation will go to City Council for a public hearing and final action.
