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Regional hearing advances 120-foot cell tower plan; Bakersfield officials stress safety benefits amid aesthetic objections
Summary
After a regional planning hearing on a proposed cell tower, the project moved forward at a 120-foot height. Board members said the tower will improve emergency communications (EMS/911) in areas with limited service, while residents raised concerns about aesthetics and height. The select board discussed including supportive language in the town plan.
Board members who joined a recent regional planning hearing reported the proposal for a 120-foot communications tower advanced to the next stage after substantial public comment.
The chair said the hearing included homeowners who would see the tower, the landowner offering the site and representatives from the applicant company and EMS. He said the plan was advanced at 120 feet rather than 140, noting that a shorter tower would not accommodate multiple carriers without more installations. "It's needed," the chair said, describing emergency-response scenarios in which lack of cellular connectivity hampered 911 calls.
Opponents at the hearing emphasized view and aesthetic concerns; supporters, including local EMS representatives, stressed public-safety benefits. Board members discussed possible mitigations, including camouflage designs (for example, a windmill-style structure) and including supportive language in the town plan to reflect community priorities for communications infrastructure.
Select Board members urged residents to weigh in on town-plan language so planners and the board can reflect community consensus while balancing coverage and aesthetics. The board said it would circulate the planning-commission materials and consider a formal statement of town support if appropriate.
