Dear Members of the Stoddard Zoning Board of Adjustment:
As residents of the Town of Stoddard and Nelson who reside both in and outside of the Granite Lake Village District[1], we the undersigned respectfully ask that you do not approve the application of AT&T for
a Special Exception to build a cell tower on property owned by Lakefalls Associates (Tax Map 418, Lot 5) overlooking Granite Lake and the village of Munsonville. The property is owned by Nicholas J. Healy, who resides in Ave Maria, Florida.
a Special Exception to build a cell tower on property owned by Lakefalls Associates (Tax Map 418, Lot 5) overlooking Granite Lake and the village of Munsonville. The property is owned by Nicholas J. Healy, who resides in Ave Maria, Florida.
The reason for this request (consistent with the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s mission which states “to protect the value of property and to preserve the rural character of the town” (found in Article 1 of the Stoddard Town Community Planning Ordinance), is that construction of a cell tower on the proposed site would forever change the unique rural and scenic character of the Granite Lake community (the village of Munsonville that lies in the townships of Stoddard and Nelson) and that it would seriously alter the pristine and natural setting of one of the purest and most picturesque lakes in New Hampshire.
In this regard, specific reasons for not approving the Special Exception include:
1. The town’s Master Plan, which is a legal document that guides development, specifically states in its first provision that “The Town of Stoddard is defined by its rural, residential and recreational (aquatic and backcountry experiences) nature, which is valued by the majority of its residents and seasonal visitors.”
2. Further, on page 6 of the Master Plan, a stated “goal” of the plan is “protecting the natural, historic and cultural resources” of the town.
3. The Town has authority over the placement of cell towers under Article 3 of the Zoning Ordinance, which specifically deals with wireless communication facilities. The “purpose” is to give the town as much control as legally permitted over the placement of towers.
4. The proposed tower is sited on Melville Hill, the eastern of two hills that for over two centuries have been referred to in this part of Cheshire County as the “Twin Hills” that rise just to the north of Granite Lake and that form a natural and beautiful backdrop to this historic lake community. Melville Hill is named after Josiah Melville, one of the village’s 18th Century founders.
5. The proposed tower, if constructed, would rise 150 feet or 15 stories above the highest point on Melville Hill. This would be far above the tree line and would be visible from many perspectives throughout the Granite Lake community in all seasons and from considerable distances.
6. The proposed tower would be of a much different magnitude and soar much higher than anything else in the area and would be in stark contrast to the rural beauty of the lake and its surrounding unspoiled hills.
7. There would be no acceptable way to camouflage the proposed tower in order for it to blend into the natural surroundings.
8. There are no other towers or obtrusive commercial structures in this pristine, rural, and picturesque area.
9. Granite Lake and its environs is one of the most unspoiled and untouched small lake settings in the entire state and has been celebrated as such for many decades.
10. Views from the Granite Lake shoreline with the “Twin Hills” overlooking the entire area are magnificent and the presence of a fifteen-story cell tower on one of these two hills would be a visual spoiler of major proportions.
11. The proposed tower is a serious threat and intrusion to the scenic value of the area and could negatively impact property values of most if not all residents in the Granite Lake community. It would most likely also impact the “view” tax collected by the town of Nelson from property owners on the south shore of the lake because the vistas are so spectacular.
12. Recognizing the special character and visual uniqueness of Granite Lake and its environs, the State of New Hampshire in the 1990s, at considerable taxpayer expense, spent tens of millions of dollars to build a bypass to reroute Route 9 around this unique lake community.
13. The Town of Stoddard is on record as supporting the mission of the Granite Lake Association, a 60-plus year old nonprofit association whose mission is to preserve the quality of life around Granite Lake, including an annual Lake Host program to keep the lake pure and protect its watershed and tributaries and encouraging property owners to take an active role in preserving the natural resources in and around Granite Lake.
14. Because of the negative and irreversible visual impact of the siting of the proposed tower, we believe the applicant has not and cannot demonstrate compliance with the permitting process requirement (under Article 3 of the Town ordinance) that states “the applicant must demonstrate that every reasonable effort has been made to cause the facility to have the least possible impact on the [tower SIC] town, including demonstration of realistic analysis of multiple sites, camouflaging, color.”
15. Attached to this letter is a photograph of Melville Hill overlooking Granite Lake taken on November 21, 2010 during the balloon test for the proposed tower. Also included is version of the same photo upon which we have superimposed a standard cell tower at the exact height of the proposed tower as shown in the balloon test photo. Also attached is a photo of Granite Lake from the Nelson Township website upon which we have superimposed the image of a tower at the exact height of the proposed tower. These photos clearly indicate the degree to which the proposed tower will visually impact the Granite Lake community.
In conclusion, it is the opinion of the undersigned residents of Stoddard and Nelson—those most directly affected by the possible construction of the proposed tower—that the Zoning Board of Adjustment, because it has the authority to regulate the placement of cell towers within the town, should not approve AT&T’s application for a Special Exception on the grounds that the proposed tower is aesthetically and environmentally incompatible with the rural and unspoiled character of this special area. Nestled in its surrounding hills, Granite Lake is widely known to be one of the scenic jewels of the entire Monadnock region and we urge the Board to join us in agreeing that the proposed site for a tower is not acceptable and that an alternative site should be found in a less obtrusive and less scenically unique place in the township.
We respectfully request the Board to adopt this letter as part of its written decision.
Respectfully submitted,
[1] The Granite Lake Village District, a separate governing entity within the towns of Stoddard and Nelson encompassing Granite Lake and its watershed, exists to oversee and have authority over issues concerning Granite Lake, including the authority to tax landowners within its borders to pay for dam maintenance expenses and other issues and costs specifically associated with the lake.
No comments:
Post a Comment