AT&T's Balloon Test & Growing Cell Tower Protest

After the first hearing on November 10, 2010, my husband and I got together with a group of neighbors to discuss the proposed cell tower and what might happen at the next hearing. Since it was clear that health risks were off the table, we focused mostly on ecological and aesthetic concerns.

Not long afterwards, on November 21, 2010, AT&T did a balloon test on Melville Hill. What we saw shocked us. We drove around Granite Lake and took pictures from various angles, then sent them to neighbors. One of our neighbors
photoshopped a cell tower at the exact height of the balloon test results to show us what it would look like atop Melville Hill, one of the two "Twin Hills," as they're called, which cradle the lake:

But few people in the area knew about what was happening and fewer still had seen the balloon test. Our first task was to get the word out and inform people of what was happening before it was too late.

Then, in a fortunate turn of events, one of our neighbors called to say that their friend, Keene attorney Charlie Donahue, had learned about the proposed tower and, although zoning board issues were not his legal specialty, said he'd be happy to offer whatever help he could.

Some days later a group of us met with Donahue and began planning for the next hearing, scheduled for December 15. We also arranged for a meeting to be held at a local church, the Chapel-By-the-Lake, where more people could hear about the AT&T proposal and how it threatened Granite Lake. Dozens of people attended and were enlisted to the cause.

Meanwhile, Donahue encouraged my husband to write up a statement about aesthetic concerns that we could present to the ZBA along with signatures of those who agreed.

Next time: A Letter to the Zoning Board about the Proposed Cell Tower