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Commission sets public hearing for proposed Icon Towers tower after split planning‑board recommendation
Summary
Planning staff asked the commission to set a public hearing for a proposed Icon Towers site submitted by Smart Link after a 4–3 planning‑board recommendation to deny; the FAA confirmed the proposed tower would not require top lighting, and commissioners asked the applicant to justify why colocation on an existing AT&T tower is insufficient.
Planning staff Carl asked the commission to set a public hearing (suggested Aug. 27) for an application by Smart Link on behalf of Icon Towers. Carl said the planning board had recommended denial by a 4–3 vote and that the applicant provided FAA verification that the proposed tower would not require lighting at the top.
"This first public hearing request is from our last, planning board meeting... and so there was quite a bit of public opposition at that meeting," Carl said, explaining the board's split recommendation and the supplemental FAA information.
A commissioner who has opposed larger towers said this proposed structure is ‘‘significantly smaller’’ and welcomed the FAA confirmation that top lighting would not be required, but asked whether colocation on the nearby AT&T tower had been fully considered. Carl said the existing tower is about three miles away and the planning‑board hearing raised questions about whether colocation would provide adequate coverage in the area; he said the applicant will need to demonstrate why colocation is not sufficient.
The commission set the matter for a public hearing to allow more evidence, testimony and cross‑examination of the planning‑board record and applicant material.
