A crane test to determine the visual impact of a cell tower on town-owned land behind Hildreth House showed that a 135-foot tower would be visible from many spots in the center of town but imperceptible from most areas outside the center. The test was conducted Jan. 21 by Isotrope LLC, a company that conducted a drive-test last fall to map cell phone coverage in the entire town. Following that study, the company recommended installing the Hildreth tower to improve coverage in the center of town, eastern portions of Still River Road, and areas around Bare Hill Pond.
Isotrope CEO David Maxson presented the test results to the Select Board at its Feb. 1 meeting, including photos taken from 34 locations near town center during the test. The photos showed that the crane was most visible in areas close to the intersection of routes 110 and 111 in the center of town, although Maxson said it would be somewhat obscured when leaves are on the trees. From the crane’s position in the lower parking lot of Hildreth House, it was very visible at Town Hall, the fire station, and the top of Elm Street.
The crane was also highly visible along Mass. Ave. from Bolton Road to the elementary school, from most of the Bromfield School, and from portions of Pond Road. Visibility decreased dramatically outside town center. There were views through the trees on portions of Depot Road, a few locations on Ayer Road close to the center, and portions of Fairbank Street. Photos taken by residents and sent to the town administrator confirmed the most visible locations—across from the General Store and at the intersection of Pond Road and Mass. Ave.
The crane can be seen to the left of the Unitarian Church. The top of the crane is equivalent to the proposed 135-foot cell tower. The crane is on the Hildreth House lawn, but the proposed cell tower would be farther back in the woods. (Courtesy photo)
Maxson explained that the tower would be in the woods behind Hildreth House, but that area was not accessible, so the crane was placed about 120 feet closer to Hildreth House. For that reason, he said the tower itself might be less conspicuous than the crane was from Town Hall and the town center. Board member Rich Maiore suggested conducting a balloon test from the proposed location in the woods to get a better idea of the actual visual impact, and Maxson agreed that would be a good idea.
The crane’s height was equivalent to a 135-foot tower, a height that exceeds the current zoning bylaw by 30 feet, requiring a variance. But Maxson told the board higher towers support more carriers, which would increase revenues to the town. When Chair Stu Sklar asked Maxson if he really thought the small town of Harvard could attract three or four carriers, Maxson said a tower near schools, businesses, and a convergence of roads would be attractive to all the major carriers.
Maxson reminded the board that wireless carriers can put towers on private property where a town doesn’t want them. Constructing this tower would give the town control over where it goes, its height, and what it looks like. That led to the inevitable discussion of what board member Rich Maiore called the “bad-looking tree.” Maxson’s presentation included photos of towers camouflaged as water towers or clock towers and examples of two towers of different heights disguised as pine trees. One of those is in Bolton, and the height of the tower blends with nearby pine trees, making it difficult to distinguish it as a cell tower dressed up as a tree. Maxson said the choices depend on the context of the site and the execution of the design, and he added that, in addition to disguises, narrower antenna frames or uniform paint colors on the equipment can help lower the visual impact.
The board will discuss the results again at its next meeting scheduled for Feb. 15. Town meeting has to approve leasing town-owned land for any purpose, including a cell tower. If the board agrees a cell tower in this location is desirable, the next step would be for it to put an article in the warrant for this year’s Annual Town Meeting. Maxson’s presentation, including photos, as well as resident photos and comments, are available on the town website in the meeting packet for the Select Board agenda of Feb. 1.
