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Council OKs 195-foot telecom monopole at West Norfolk Road with staff follow-up on fall-radius rules
Summary
Portsmouth approved a use permit for a 195-foot monopole telecommunications tower proposed by CitySwitch with Verizon as the initial carrier; council asked staff to research fall-radius/building-code implications and adopted the permit 7-0.
Portsmouth City Council approved a use permit (UP2507) allowing a 195-foot monopole telecommunications tower at a largely wooded parcel on West Norfolk Road. Rick Hartman, representing CitySwitch, said Verizon would be the first carrier and described a leased, fenced compound reachable via a short blacktop driveway from Old Coast Guard Road.
Council members raised concerns about the tower's fall radius and whether potential impact zones would lie within adjacent properties. Hartman said the nearest structures were several hundred feet away and that the tower's fall zone would be outside the lease area; the city's assistant building official said there are different regulations for communication towers and would research whether a fall-zone requirement must be contained on the lot. City staff committed to report back with clarification on relevant code and regulatory requirements.
After questions and staff assurances about follow-up, the council closed the public hearing and adopted the use permit by an electronic vote of 7-0. Subsequent steps include final permitting and any required technical and safety reviews.
