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Minutes of 05/08/07

June 8th, 2007

Carroll Planning Board
Minutes
Cell Tower Public Hearing Continuation
May 8, 2007


“These minutes of the Town of Carroll Planning Board have been recorded by its Secretary. Though believed to be accurate and correct they are subject to additions,
deletions, and corrections by the Planning Board at its next meeting when the Board votes its final approval of the minutes. They are being made available at this time to conform to the requirements of New Hampshire RSAS 91-A:2.”

Members of the Board present: Chairman John Birknes, Connie Oliver, Evan Karpf,
Charlie Cohn and Rena Vecchio

Member of the Public present: Tom Hildreth, Mercy Luhanga, Ken Kelly, Dave Maxon, Edith Tucker, Leslie Bergum, Erik Bergum, Joan Karpf, Bill Rines, Lee Hallquist, Jim Covey, Lisa Covey, Michelle Gamache, Charlie Gamache, Dot Upton, Tom Upton, Judy Cookson, Dick Simmons, Roberta McGee, Tom Andross, Jeff Duncan, Donna Foster, bill Smalley, Doug Bews, Kathy Saffian, George Saffian

Minutes taken by Maryclare Quigley, Secretary:

Pledge of Allegiance

Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM

Chairman Birknes advised that the Board was resuming the public hearing for the Verizon Wireless Telecommunications Tower. He proceeded to read an email from the Board’s RF engineer, Dave Maxson, (copy attached) which addressed questions from the meeting in January. These included the tower height at which a light is not required, the layout of the network that would provide the coverage needed between the proposed site at Harmony Hill and the suggested alternate site at the Town Hall and Mt. Washington Hotel. As even the tallest proposed tower at 180 feet leaves a gap of about a mile, Mr. Maxson raised the idea of placing an inconspicuous facility on Route 302, perhaps at the campground at Zealand. The Bretton Woods Ski Area (Mt. Oscar) was also suggested. He requested that Verizon plot 90 feet height at the top of the Town Hall property, and also 90 feet at the Zealand campground. He asked that these be done solo, as well as with each other and together with other facilities. Though he reminded that previously Verizon’s RF engineer had said that nothing less than 180 feet would work and she would not even model antenna elevations at less than that. The new plots will give a more accurate picture of what the capability is. To address the impact of the three-mile exclusion on future facilities, Mr. Maxson suggested supplying a three-mile radius circle from the Harmony Hill site on the master plan maps. By creating a “straw man master plan,” it would provide a general footprint of all facilities, both hypothetical and existing, and would also relate to the Zealand campground and Mt. Oscar sites.

Attorney Hildreth addressed the Board and audience and mentioned that this is their fourth iteration for the Wyman property. It originally started with a monopole of 180 feet, they moved the site further to the east to keep the radius entirely on the Wyman property, and are now proposing a monopole of 90 feet, which is the tallest the FAA would approve because of its proximity to the airport. All other aspects remain the same regarding the facility compound, the number of visits to it, etc. Mr. Hildreth said they believe a light would still be needed at the new height. He brought several maps showing the coverage area from the various sites proposed as well as suggested, and explained the various signal strengths. The hotel site was questioned and Mr. Kelly, site acquisition specialist for Verizon, said that the existing site has to be expanded for the additional equipment. They advised a balloon test could be done on the shorter tower height.

Chairman Birknes read the state statute regarding goals and purposes and reminded that nothing preempts that Federal Communications Act regarding telecommunications facilities. However, he also read section III which states that carriers should consider their locations as to disguising or camouflaging the poles or having them custom designed. Mr. Birknes just wanted these to be kept in mind as they have been mentioned at previous meetings.

When asked where they stand with the application at the Mount Washington Hotel, they advised they were doing mock-ups, working on a lease, due diligence, etc. What it will look like is very important, and if the Hotel does not happen, Mt. Oscar may be the end of the line. The Verizon team was reminded that the Hotel will have to come before the Planning Board. It was noted that when the Hotel was approved previously, it was done so with other carriers being able to use the same poles.

It was stated that in the paper recently was an article about assets or facilities being transferred from Verizon to another company, however, this does not include the wireless part. Mr. Hildreth also advised that the N.H. Division of Historic Resources had signed off on the cell tower installation at the Harmony Hill location, that there are no historic properties affected. This was received on March 12, 2007.

Attorney Hildreth introduced their RF Engineer, Mercy Luhanga. Ms. Luhanga addressed the Town Hall location and advised that the terrain is a problem as it limits signal strength. She also advised that the leaves on the trees can also cause obstructions, and said that the original search area was in the location of the Zealand campground, but because of the trees the tower would have to be very tall in order to connect. Also, there is no power there so electricity would have to be put in. She continued discussion of the limitations once foliage is out which blocks the signal the way the ridgeline from the Town Hall does, and explained it does not meet coverage objectives. Mr. Maxson spoke about information on Mt. Oscar. On its own it may not overlap with Bethlehem east site, but that may not be the case with a facility in between. Discussion of overlap took place as this is needed to have a seamless handoff. It was explained that a dropped call is when service is lost and the call must be reinitiated. Ms. Luhanga will submit a plot with Mt. Oscar to show the gap with the Town Hall. Mr. Maxson said if Mt. Oscar could meet the coverage gap then they would not need to ask for another site.

Ms. Luhanga said they were trying to have just one site, but if they use the lower 90’ height, then they must have two sites. The lower height will also limit the number of carriers. The question was asked if the lower height will make a difference on needing to have it lighted and Mr. Maxson advised that is hard to predict in advance what they will approve as the FAA sends the application out for review. Verizon has already tried but could not get the height for requiring lighting. Mr. Hildreth said they will follow up on it.
It was asked where on Mt. Oscar they are looking at, and they advised that it is close to the top and they are in negotiations at this time with the ski area. They have to apply to the FAA so they may need a light if it is in the flight path or the tower is higher than 200 feet. They could use an existing ski lift structure, but most likely they are not high enough. They believe they are about 40 feet. They were asked if the tower could be painted a dark color to help blend in and Mr. Maxson that if the FAA requires a light, then it will need to be a strobe light or to be painted red and white. The nighttime options are a less bright white strobe or red light. These cannot be directional as they are for visibility and must be seen from all directions.

Jim Covey reminded all that the town is on a National Scenic Byway and stated that he had been in contact with the office and they have heard nothing from Verizon about this. He feels it should be addressed.

Jeff Duncan, Fire Chief, said that at the meeting in November, he was told that for emergency services Verizon will install equipment at no cost to the town. Mr. Hildreth said this is the case and it will be rent free. The town purchases whatever equipment they need. Discussion ensued as to various requirements with Chief Duncan and Tom Andross, Director of Communications for Grafton County Sheriff’s Dept.

Mr. Maxson stated that he is encouraged by what he is hearing as the applicant is trying to make this work with a lower tower. However, there must be a more comprehensive or likely estimate of a location and coverage plot to know what coverage can realistically be expected. He reiterated modeling the Mt. Oscar site to get the line of site with the Town Hall and Harmony Hill locations. It was requested again if there could be a rendering of a disguised tower to help determine if it may be worse

Discussion of towers needed to connect from town if they can get a line of site from Mt. Oscar to the Hotel took place. It is difficult to determine numbers because of location and height, shorter towers allow fewer carriers. It was stated that if this is the case, if it is right down to the tree line, two towers side by side may be the best way to conceal them. It was asked if there are two low towers next to each other, if each has to have a light. Mr. Maxson said the FAA is sensitive to needless light and that perhaps both might be rigged, but maybe only one would need to be lighted at a time. Because the proposed Mt. Oscar location is in Bethlehem, it was suggested that maybe we should have a joint meeting with the Bethlehem Planning Board. Mr. Hildreth said he will bring it up with them as they have negotiations starting with them. It was suggested that depending on just where on Mt. Oscar it is, there could be dramatically different results. It was also asked if the height limiting structures within three miles of each other pertains to the Mt. Washington Hotel. It was stated that this typically refers to towers, so the hotel would not be included.

The first proposal site was brought up regarding the closest homeowner. After input from the homeowner, the site was moved several hundred feet. It was asked if its being moved made a difference. Also, with the shorter tower, it was asked if the diameter of the pole would lessen, which it may, but not by much.

It was decided to continue the hearing to Wednesday, June 13, at 7 p.m. The date decided on for the balloon test at the Harmony Hill site will be Saturday, May 19, with a weather date of Sunday, May 20. The backup weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3.

Charlie Cohn moved to adjourn the meeting. Evan Karpf seconded and it passed unanimously.

The Chairman declared the meeting ended at 8:45 p.m.

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