Verizon Tower Approved In Merrimack's Residential Zone

MERRIMACK, NH — Despite concerns by neighboring residents, the Merrimack Planning Board has approved plans for a 125-foot-tall Verizon Wireless tower to locate in the town's residential zone. The cell phone tower will be located at 123 Wilson Hill Road. The board approved the site plans last week after some residents expressed concern regarding property values.

According to planning documents, the Verizon tower will be painted blue-gray and camouflaged in "flag pole style," with an internal antenna. It will be about 5 feet wide at the base, tapering off at 3 feet wide at the top. It will sit on a 27-acre lot in the town's Residential 1 zone and be surrounded by a fence.

At last week's meeting, some Wilson Hill Road residents brought up concerns that nearby property values would decrease due to the view of the tower from nearby properties, particularly after trees were cut down on the parcel.

In response, Manchester Attorney Victor Manougian stated that according to studies and photo simulations, a decrease in properties is not expected as a result of the project, and a substantial portion of the tower will be hidden by trees when viewed from the street.

Manougian has been representing the project's applicant, Cellco Partnership doing business as Verizon Wireless. The owner of the property is Brett Vaughn Revocable Trust.

Planning Board member William Boyd expressed his dislike of cell phone towers locating in residential zones, but stated the Planning Board has no authority over that factor in its decision-making on the site plan. The Zoning Board of Adjustment has previously approved a special exception allowing the tower to locate in the residential district. The special exception was approved in February.

"I abhor cell towers in residential neighborhoods," said Boyd, encouraging concerned residents to reach out to the U.S. legislature on this issue. "It defeats the character and purpose of what the residential district (should be)."

The Planning Board also received a letter from a Merrimack resident expressing concern about potential health hazards by the tower's radio transmissions. Alastair Millns, the board's vice chairman, pointed to the 1996 federal law that prohibits municipalities from considering radio frequencies' perceived effects on health during the approval process for telecommunication towers.

The intent of the project is to improve cell service in the nearby area. In addition to Verizon, the tower will likely service other cell service carriers that will add their antennas down the road.

The Planning Board approved the site plans in a 5-0 vote on June 18. The approval was issued with several conditions, including the applicant needing to address some comments by the Fire Department and public works.

The address for the property of the new tower is planned to be amended to 10 Whitetail Ridge Circle.