Planning & Zoning Board puts Comp Plan policy on hold

The Planning & Zoning Board faced a looming tower once again at its March 27 meeting — specifically, a potential cellular tower.

The board voted 7-2 to move forward with changes to its Comprehensive Plan, which totals more than 200 pages, with the exception of Policy 1.1.10 to the town’s Comprehensive Plan, which states:

“Height restrictions for each category shall not apply to antennae, enclosed mechanical equipment areas, chimneys, house of worship spires, or towers, but the town land development regulations shall limit their height.”

The word “tower” in the policy has been the focus of ongoing Comprehensive Plan discussions; attorneys for residents who oppose a tower had argued that the changes would be premature without the results of a wireless communications study that will be completed in April.

But board member Leonard Garner disagreed with arguments that changes were premature and made a motion to move changes to the Comprehensive Plan through in their entirety.

“We’re making no commitment whatsoever other than to say that if you want to find the height limits of a tower, go to the land-use regulations instead of the Comp Plan,” Garner said.

But attorney Michael Furen, who represents residents Gus Sclafani and Doreen Erickson, whose home is adjacent to the site of the proposed tower, argued against the changes.

“It’s bad policy to piecemeal a very important policy to this island,” he said. “It’s foolhardy to adopt anything today that implies a positive reaction to cellular towers.”

Board Chairwoman B.J. Webb said before taking the vote that she planned to vote against the motion because of the ongoing study.

“If we’re going to the time, trouble and expense of hiring a consultant, we might as well hear from them,” she said.

The board, instead, voted to approve a motion made by board member John Wild to move forward with the Comprehensive Plan changes with the exception of Policy 1.1.10.

Before addressing the Comprehensive Plan, the board heard from Scott Wierson, of TE Connectivity, who presented the wireless communications study findings about cellular coverage on the island. The results of the study that could impact Policy 1.1.10 — i.e. the company’s recommendations — will most likely be presented in April.

But Wierson summed up the data’s results, saying that it showed a 3.5-mile problem area on the north end and a smaller problem area on the south end.