By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | January 08,2014
Rutland Herald
STAFF WRITER | January 08,2014
Rutland Herald
KILLINGTON — The backer of a controversial cell tower has asked the town to postpone its deliberations on the proposed project.
In late November, Elizabeth Kohler, an attorney for AT&T Wireless, made a presentation to the Select Board as she sought a positive recommendation for a proposed 140-foot tower on a 2-acre parcel just off Brad Mead Drive.
The decision to grant AT&T a permit for the project rests with the state’s Public Service Board, which takes into account recommendations from town officials.
The proposal has drawn criticism from the board and the public at large for a variety of reasons. Some object to the way the tower would look to hikers at the top of Deer Leap. Adjacent property owners complained the tower would be a risk to health, as well as negatively affect property values.
Residents on the north end of town complained the project will improve cell service along Route 4 while still leaving many homeowners along Route 100 without a signal.
In late November, Kohler asked the board to table the issue until January, as AT&T looked at making changes to the plans to make the project more appealing, such as employing a “monopine,” which is a tower that resembles a tree.
Now, Kohler has asked the town to suspend its deliberations altogether.
“AT&T is working with (Killington) Resort to evaluate alternative locations for a site in the area and would like the town to postpone its consideration of the current site while AT&T evaluates alternative locations,” Kohler wrote in an email Monday to Town Manager Seth Webb.
According to Kohler’s email, AT&T met with representatives from the resort before the holidays to discuss the resort’s concerns with the project.
The town continues to receive correspondence from property owners opposed to the project, including new and long-time residents of Northside Condominiums.
“As a board member of the Northside Condominium Association, we too were approached for permission to build this tower last year by AT&T,” wrote Jay LaCroix, a nine-year resident. “Our board solicited all Northside owners for input to allow this build, and we unanimously felt it would be a significant detriment to the charm and natural beauty of Killington, not to mention an adverse effect on property values, so we voted the offer down.”
Robert Rainero, who described himself as a 33-year Northside resident, also voiced his opposition to the project.
“I have owned here these many years, in large part because I love the natural beauty of the area,” Rainero wrote. “This beauty would be seriously infringed on by construction of a cell tower.”
New resident Regina Clark also wrote to express her opposition.
“We bought a condo at Northside four months ago. We just heard about the proposed cell tower,” Clark wrote. “A tower in our backyard can’t be good for property values. I sincerely hope that no tower goes up this year or next year or ever!”
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
In late November, Elizabeth Kohler, an attorney for AT&T Wireless, made a presentation to the Select Board as she sought a positive recommendation for a proposed 140-foot tower on a 2-acre parcel just off Brad Mead Drive.
The decision to grant AT&T a permit for the project rests with the state’s Public Service Board, which takes into account recommendations from town officials.
The proposal has drawn criticism from the board and the public at large for a variety of reasons. Some object to the way the tower would look to hikers at the top of Deer Leap. Adjacent property owners complained the tower would be a risk to health, as well as negatively affect property values.
Residents on the north end of town complained the project will improve cell service along Route 4 while still leaving many homeowners along Route 100 without a signal.
In late November, Kohler asked the board to table the issue until January, as AT&T looked at making changes to the plans to make the project more appealing, such as employing a “monopine,” which is a tower that resembles a tree.
Now, Kohler has asked the town to suspend its deliberations altogether.
“AT&T is working with (Killington) Resort to evaluate alternative locations for a site in the area and would like the town to postpone its consideration of the current site while AT&T evaluates alternative locations,” Kohler wrote in an email Monday to Town Manager Seth Webb.
According to Kohler’s email, AT&T met with representatives from the resort before the holidays to discuss the resort’s concerns with the project.
The town continues to receive correspondence from property owners opposed to the project, including new and long-time residents of Northside Condominiums.
“As a board member of the Northside Condominium Association, we too were approached for permission to build this tower last year by AT&T,” wrote Jay LaCroix, a nine-year resident. “Our board solicited all Northside owners for input to allow this build, and we unanimously felt it would be a significant detriment to the charm and natural beauty of Killington, not to mention an adverse effect on property values, so we voted the offer down.”
Robert Rainero, who described himself as a 33-year Northside resident, also voiced his opposition to the project.
“I have owned here these many years, in large part because I love the natural beauty of the area,” Rainero wrote. “This beauty would be seriously infringed on by construction of a cell tower.”
New resident Regina Clark also wrote to express her opposition.
“We bought a condo at Northside four months ago. We just heard about the proposed cell tower,” Clark wrote. “A tower in our backyard can’t be good for property values. I sincerely hope that no tower goes up this year or next year or ever!”
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
Comment: In all fairness to AT&T, while the concerns of abutting and neighboring property owners are valid, the objection of residents in the north of town, "Residents
on the north end of town complained the project will improve cell
service along Route 4 while still leaving many homeowners along Route
100 without a signal." seem to me to have nothing at all to do with the proposed cell tower at Pico. It's not just AT&T that is not providing adequate cell coverage north of town but also other carriers as well. I have Verizon and when I'm in that area I have very limited service if any at all.
Bernie Rome tried to promote some sort of quid pro quo during Ms. Kohler's presentation to the board wherein AT&T would improve service north of town in return for the board's endorsement of the Pico tower.
It looks like the objections of those most affected are being take seriously as they should be.
Vito
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