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Home My WebLink About5005 Planning Board Comments In Opposition to Cape Cod Commission 06.02.21 12.02.21 12.16.21TOWN OF YARMOUTH 1146 ROUTE 28, SOUTH YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS 02664-4492 Telephone (508) 398-223 I, Ext. 1276, Fax (508) 398-2365 June 2, 2021 Cape Cod Commission - DRI Subcommittee Sent via e-mail to: reg lato!yAcapecodcommission.org Re: Blue Sky Towers Monopole, Yarmouth (CCC File No. 21005) Dear DRI Subcommittee Members, Planning Board RECEIVED MAR 0 6 2023 YARMOUTH BOARD OF APPEALS This letter is in regard to the proposed 120' monopole wireless communication tower with ground equipment proposed for 1044 Route 28 in South Yarmouth. The Town of Yarmouth and the Planning Board have been working diligently to beautify and improve Route 28, our main commercial corridor over the past several decades. Significant progress has been made with many zoning amendments being passed by our community to promote quality redevelopment along Route 28. The passage of the Village Centers Overlay District (VCOD) in 2012 was a particularly significant piece of zoning that shows Yarmouth's commitment to promoting redevelopment opportunities that would improve the aesthetics of our community. Improving Route 28 was also one of the key visions identified for our community during the initial phase of the Community Visioning Project undertaken by the Planning Board this past fall. Route 28 is also included in the first phase of our proposed municipal wastewater project. Municipal sewers are anticipated to provide significant redevelopment opportunities and promote economic redevelopment along Route 28. Route 28 is on the cusp of significant redevelopment opportunities. Although we appreciate and understand the need for reliable wireless coverage, it cannot be done at the expense of the progress Yarmouth has made to improve Route 28. The 120' cell tower as currently designed with exposed antennas and the visibility from public ways undermines our community vision and is not suited for this location. As presented, the Planning Board finds this proposal entirely unacceptable. The lack of photo -simulations at the Forest Road/Route 28 intersection, where the tower would be most visible, shows a lack of transparency on the part of the applicant. These photo simulations should be provided to show the true level of visibility from public ways. The Board also questions the supposition that the existing wooded area would provide sufficient screening for a 120' tower. The existing wooded area is not dense enough, tall enough or large enough to provide the level of screening suggested in the application. The location of the pole adjacent to the parking lot, along with the removal of trees will make this area highly visible from Route 28. Blue Sky Towers Monopole Yarmouth Planning Board Comments June 2, 2021 The Board questioned the lack of any other location or locations for cell facilities that would help to address the gap in coverage, noting that the 70' concealed monopole cell tower across the street at 1045 Route 28 has two open slots. Other operators use a variety of wireless infrastructure to meet their coverage needs while being less visually intrusive (i.e. lower height concealed monopoles, antennas in church steeples or on top of utility poles). The Board had significant concerns with the proposed design aesthetics of the pole in such a prominent location along Route 28. More imagination, effort, and thoughtful design of the tower is needed to make the cell tower remotely palatable. Other communities and cell tower carriers have worked hard to develop creative ways to camouflage cell towers and make them an attraction, rather than detracting from the area and the community. The applicant should be required to provide other, more creative options that camouflage the cell tower. The ground equipment, generators, and LP gas tanks for the four carriers will be located on concrete pads behind a 6' chain link fence with 3 strands of barbed wire. This type of installation is more suitable for an isolated industrial area and not along our commercial corridor. Although screening with 4' to 6' tall evergreen trees, are proposed, the ground equipment will be visible from Route 28 at the access gate. Again, more thoughtful design and site location is needed to adequately conceal these utilitarian components. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on this project. Please contact me if you have any questions, or require additional information. Sincerely, " P-t� Joanne Crowley, Chair Yarmouth Planning Board cc: Kathy Williams, Town Planner Bob Whritenour, Town Administrator Board of Selectmen Page 2 of 2 TOWN OF YARMOUTH 1146 ROUTE 28, SOUTH YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS 026644492 Telephone (508) 398-2231, Ext. 1276, Fax (508) 398-2365 December 2, 2021 Cape Cod Commission - DRl Subcommittee Sent via e-mail to: regulatoaacapecodcommission.org Re: Blue Sky Towers Monopole, Yarmouth (CCC File No. 21005) Dear DR] Subcommittee Members, Planning Board The Planning Board has reviewed the October 25, 2021 submission by Blue Sky Towers III regarding a proposed cell tower with ground equipment at 1044 Route 28 in South Yarmouth (Our Lady of the Highway). The main modifications include reducing the height from 120' to 110', bringing the exposed antennas closer to the pole using 6' antenna frames rather than 12', and including 6' solid fencing and more landscaping to screen the ground equipment. The vast majority of the Planning Board is very disappointed by the minimal modifications proposed by the applicant which do little to address the comments and concerns previously expressed by the Planning Board and Town Staff. The Applicant has shown little interest in significant changes to their proposal and the Planning Board would request that the current application be denied by the Cape Cod Commission. Route 28 is one of Yarmouth's biggest challenges and an area where significant planning efforts have been concentrated. The site is located within the Village Centers Overlay District (VCOD) zoning district, which was crafted to promote better design and more attractive redevelopment. The need to improve Route 28 was further articulated through our Community Visioning Project and draft Vision Plan. We are on the cusp of significant redevelopment with the advent of municipal wastewater. An industrial looking cell tower of this type, height and location, which will be at the site for decades to come, is the antithesis of our community's vision for our major commercial corridor. Although we appreciate and understand the need for reliable wireless coverage, other cell carriers, such as Verizon, have been able to provide coverage for their users through a variety of methods that are far less intrusive and impactful to our community. The Planning Board may have further comments once the peer review by lsotrope Wireless has been completed and reviewed by the Board. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, Joanne Crowley, Chair Yarmouth Planning Board cc: Kathy Williams, Town Planner Bob Whritenour, Town Administrator TOWN OF YARMOUTH 1 146 ROUTE 28, SOUTH YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS 02664-4492 Telephone (508) 398-2231, Ext. 1276, Fax (508) 398-2365 December 16, 2021 Cape Cod Commission - DR] Subcommittee Sent via e-mail to: reaulatorv{cicaaecodcommission.org Re: Blue Sky Towers Monopole, Yarmouth (CCC File No. 21012) Dear DRI Subcommittee Members, Planning Board At the December 14, 2021 Public Hearing for the above referenced project, there was discussion regarding the existing gap in data coverage and how the proposed tower location at 1044 Route 28 will help to address this gap. Presuming this is true, the natural next question is whether this is the right design for this location. Other communities and cell tower developers/carriers have worked together to develop creative ways to camouflage cell towers and make them into an attraction, rather than a detraction. Other serious alternative designs that would fit better into our community have been ignored as they are not a standard design for Blue Sky Tower. Alternative designs should be required that would take into consideration the aesthetic concerns of our community and the long term planning being undertaken for our Route 28 corridor. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, Joanne Crowley, Chair Yarmouth Planning Board cc: Kathy Williams, Town Planner Bob Whritenour, Town Administrator