New Cell Phone Tower Proposed In Merrimack's Residential Area

MERRIMACK, NH — A new Verizon cell phone tower is being proposed in a residential area of Merrimack, at 123 Wilson Hill Road. The 125-foot-high tower would be camouflaged in "flag pole style," with an internal antenna, according to Planning Director Tim Thompson. The Zoning Board of Adjustment has already approved a special exception for the project in February, allowing the tower to be located in a Residential 1 zone. The Planning Board had a conceptual discussion on the project last week and is expected to discuss site plan approval in upcoming weeks.

The surrounding area of the proposed tower location consists of both residential homes and residential parcels that have not yet been developed, according to planning documents. The tower would be located on a 27-acre lot and be enclosed by a fence. Blasting would potentially be part of the driveway construction for the tower.

During a Feb. 27 meeting, several residents approached the Zoning Board with concerns about the project. Some said there is no cell phone service gap to justify building a new tower in that area, while others said the tower would worsen the scenic view.

At that meeting, Wilson Road resident Jim Wood said he was concerned about the impact that the tower's radio frequency emissions would have. He said he spent his career working with airplanes and he knows about negative effects of those emissions.

At the Planning Board meeting Tuesday last week, Thompson pointed out that per federal law established in 1996, local governments such as planning boards may not consider effects of radio frequency emissions or their perceived health impacts as part of their approval process for telecommunication towers.

Site plans for the project are expected to officially come before the Planning Board during its meeting either later in May or in June. The applicant for the project is Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless.

The Verizon project in Merrimack is not the only cell phone tower being proposed in the local area. At this time, the Bedford Planning Board is also considering plans for a T-Mobile cell phone tower, which would be 130 feet tall and be located on Tirrell Road. The Bedford Planning Board is expected consider site plans for that project in June.