New T-Mobile Cell Tower Proposed In Bedford

BEDFORD, NH — The Planning Board is considering plans for a 130-foot-tall cell phone tower on Tirrell Road, to be located in a residential/agricultural zone. The tower would be used by T-Mobile and potential other future carriers. According to planning documents, the tower's purpose would be to improve cell phone coverage in central and south areas of Bedford, including on public roads, inside residential buildings, in shopping areas and on playing fields.

The application for the project is being submitted by American Tower and T-Mobile. The tower, which would be located at 25 Tirrell Road, already has gotten special exception approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Original plans for the project had first been submitted to the town in 2016.

During its May 6 meeting, the Planning Board considered varying designs for the tower, including a brown-colored design to blend with surrounding trees, a gray-colored "galvanized steel" design, and a "monopine" design that aims to camouflage the tower to look like a pine tree. In an informal consensus, board members favored the galvanized steel design.

A no-cut tree zone surrounding the future tower is also part of project plans. Also part of last week's discussion was building a fence at the height of 8 feet, rather than previously proposed 6 feet, to effectively cover equipment storage cabinets from view.

The Planning Board discussed the project during its May 6 meeting and decided to table its decision on the application. The board is expected to continue its discussion on the plans on June 10.

The new T-Mobile tower is not the only cell phone tower being proposed in the local area. In upcoming weeks, the Merrimack Planning Board is also expected to discuss approval of site plans for a new 125-foot-tall Verizon cell phone tower, which would be located at 123 Wilson Hill Road in Merrimack.