Plan for New Cell Tower In Northwest New Canaan Gains Support

NEW CANAAN, CT — Telecommunications giant AT&T Wireless will join New Canaan officials in applying to the Connecticut Siting Council for approval for a new public safety/cell tower on upper Ponus Ridge Road in the northwest section of town, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan announced.

The site for the proposed tower would be on more than 5 acres of private, residential property at 1837 Ponus Ridge Road, just north of Dan's Highway, on the east side of the road opposite the Laurel Reservoir.

Town officials are pushing for the tower to both improve cell service in that part of New Canaan, but also to provide safety radio antennas to help local police, fire and emergency medical communications.

If approved, the tower would be constructed by Homeland Towers LLC, of Danbury, which is New Canaan's chosen partner in expanding and improving cellular phone coverage in town.

"After having successfully obtained Siting Council approval for the planned tower on Soundview Lane in the Northeast section of New Canaan last October, the addition of this new proposed tower to serve our first responders and residents in the Northwest section of town now allows us to turn our focus to additional new towers in the West and Center sections of town where improved cell coverage is badly needed," Moynihan said.

For years, officials have sought a solution to the need for public safety radio antennas in the northwest section of town where first responders' mobile radios did not receive dependable reception.

The proposed tower at 1837 Ponus Ridge Road will provide this permanent solution for public safety radio reception for first responders and will also greatly improve mobile phone service for both New Canaan residents and North Stamford residents in the area, according to Moynihan.

Homeland Towers will spearhead the siting council application for the new tower, which could take six to nine months before a decision is reached.