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Town of Otisfield
Planning Board
Public Hearing Minutes
January 17, 2012
1. Call to Order: The Public Hearing was called to order at 7:02 PM
2. Attendance: Chair- Stan Brett, Vice Chair - Dan Peaco, Recording Secretary – Karen Turino, Herb Olsen, Beth Damon, Alternate - Dave McVety & Alternate - Rick Jackson.
Richard St. John – CEO, Tanya Taft – Secretary
3. APPLICANT: Bob Gashlin – US Cellular: Map R2, Lot 8A – Application for a permit to construct a telecommunications facility at Scribner Hill Road.
Application status: Voted complete at last meeting upon CEO receiving required application fee & the FCC license. Applicant has provided both items tonight. Plus, pending final PB vote of acceptance or denial.
Bob Gashlin: The property owner has agreed to lease a 236’ x 119’ area to applicant, to construct a facility that will include a 75’ x 75’ fenced-in compound, a 180’ tower, top two spots are for Us Cellular at 15’ feet each the lowest future carrier is 135’ feet to accommodate co-location, required per the ordinance, 9 antennas, a 12’x20’equipment shelter and associated equipment. Applicant also proposes to construct an access road and add overhead utility lines for telephone and electric service. 105% set-back requirement for tower has been met. Tower space will be provided to the Town of Otisfield Fire Department free of charge once the contract is signed and details are worked out amongst them. State Historic Preservation Commission is required and
once they get the final approval from them, applicant will pass it on to CEO. Visual presentation provided. All agree most viewable locations include; Ivory Hill Road, Scribner Hill Road, Pleasant Lake Boat Landing and Heniger Park.
4. PUBLIC:
CEO: What color will tower be? Bob Gashlin: The Tower will have galvanized gray finish. John Poto, Cobb Hill Road: is this the only spot in town it will work? Hard time grasping how this lives in the spirit of the Comprehensive Plan. He doesn’t think anyone involved in developing plan envisioned something so far out of character as this tower. As you see it, it stands out and does not fit the character of the town. Can color be changed? What about a camoflauged / tree look? Bob Gashlin: Galvanized steel will eventually blend in more against the light gray sky backdrop as do the ones in your community such as Poland, Oxford and Mechanic Falls. Otherwise it looks like a huge tower trying to look like a tree. The option of making the tower appear as a tree has its dangers, because the “limbs" of the tree
design are susceptible to "falling off", creating a potential hazard when they fall to the ground". Dean Raymond, Kilby-Edwards Road: All for this and is hoping it reaches to his area so that he can have better cell phone service. Bob Gashlin: It will blanket Route 121, should reach most of Otisfield (except the Bolsters Mills side of town), and hopefully provided much improved coverage to almost all areas having zero-to-limited previous coverage. Susan Fellar, Scribner Hill Road: How much land will be cleared? Storage ? Lighting? Bob Gashlin: DEP says buffers are needed and only allows a percentage of trees to be removed. Ground and vegetation have to be left in place to let water runoff. DEP is requiring as few trees as possible. Approx. 20 feet wide for road. 12 ½’ perimeter around fence. There is a Diesel generator. The fuel tank is less than 188 gallons. The tank is in the compartment on a pad and is self contained. Increase in coverage, see Exhibit 2 & 3: There will be no
lighting on the tower. FAA ruling determined no light necessary. Motion activated light for emergency situations, on the building, about 8’ high. Quen Henderson, Bean Road: what will the town get from this in revenue? Bob Gashlin: We will pay taxes on this; usually they get assessed for approx. $140,000, so approx. $1,300 – $1,500 a year in taxes. Plus it’s providing a public service for free to town. Neal Wooley, Oak Hill Road: Will it reach Oak Hill Road, currently no service. Bob Gashlin: Looking at exhibits, it looks like it will reach your area.
Kate Brent, Scribner Hill Road: Health concerns and home resale values? Bob G: The Health Impact, Telecommunications Act of 1996. Municipalities cannot deny an application based on health factors. Because the FCC is in charge of any type of exposure and they know if the town had to make judgments on health, it would not be factual. Overwhelming data provided by U.S. studies showing no health impacts. David Hyer, Loop Road: Is it in the helicopter flight path of Life Flight. Bob Gashlin: It may indeed be, but falls to FAA’s jurisdiction, but FAA says, they are not to put lights on the tower. Cindy Arntsen, Ivory Hill: Will it ruin good service if abutters are too close to the tower. Bob Gashlin: No. There can be different frequencies coming from same location w/ no interference. Peter Arntsen, Ivory Hill: How
will your road affect his re; storm water? Bob Gashlin: working w/ DEP should produce 0 affect, hence the reason for buffers/ditching/plunge pools/etc.. Dean Raymond: Kilby-Edwards Road: Will this tower help his cell phone provider? Bob Gashlin: Yes, because they will share frequencies. Quen: what is target date: Bob Gashlin: not on construction radar until building permits are issued, posted roads, etc. but maybe looking at sometime this summer. Lenny Adler, Bolsters Mill Road: All for this and hoping it will improve his cell service. The people on the lake are already looking at other towers. As a FD member he thinks it will improve communications. Bob Gashlin: Statistically 33% of all emergency calls come from cell phones. Public safety is significant.
5. Adjournment of Public Hearing: Meeting Adjourned At 9:05PM
NOTE: Regular Planning Board meeting to follow, after a 15 minute recess.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary.
Approved by:
Stan Brett, Chair
Otisfield Planning Board
Approved on: 02/21/2012
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