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Planning board reopens hearing on proposed 135-foot Verizon monopole at 409 Green Street; continues matter to Aug. 10
Summary
After reopening public comment, the Town of Northborough Planning Board pressed Verizon and TowerCo on camouflage options and documentation of alternative sites. The applicant offered painting, landscaping and removal of existing poles; the board continued the hearing to Aug. 10 and extended the federal shot clock to Aug. 14.
The Town of Northborough Planning Board reopened the public hearing on a proposed 130-foot monopole with a 5-foot antenna (135 feet total) at 409 Green Street to allow further questioning of the applicant and additional public input. The chair said the board would apply town criteria first and then review federal standards, and that the hearing would remain open through deliberations.
Michael Fenton, counsel for TowerCo and Verizon, told the board the applicant would not agree to construct a faux silo and barn as proposed by the board, calling that option “cost prohibitive” and saying it was not an appropriate stealthing solution for this site. He reiterated the company’s offers to paint the pole and add additional landscaping and to remove the existing emergency‑service pole and collocate its equipment on the new structure.
Residents pushed back, citing the site’s location on a scenic road near agritourism destinations. “Painting a 135‑foot pole — I say don’t waste your money on the paint. It’s not gonna make one bit of difference,” said resident Sharon Barubi of 359 Green Street, stressing concerns about tourism, property values and the character of the corridor.
Experts and board members debated technical coverage needs. The board’s independent reviewer and applicant engineers pointed to computer‑generated RF plots that show reduced coverage at lower heights, and the applicant said alternative existing towers would not close the gaps across Boylston and the northern portions of Northborough.
Town counsel and the applicant discussed decision language intended to make any condition on maximum height more defensible under the federal Spectrum Act. After board members requested documentary follow‑up about outreach to alternate sites and the applicant’s cost comparisons, the board voted to continue the public hearing to Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. by Zoom and the applicant agreed to toll the federal shot clock through Aug. 14 to allow the board to prepare and file its written decision.
