Letter by Geoff Jones, Stoddard Conservation Commission Chairman, to the Keene Sentinel:
In the fall of 2010, AT&T approached the Stoddard ZBA for a special exception to place a cell tower on Melville Hill that provides the grand backdrop to Granite Lake. When the residents of Granite Lake and the conservation commission learned about the proposal, they were naturally concerned. A 200 foot tower would mar the summit of Melville Hill and undermine the conservation values of abutting protected lands that bordered the site on three sides. There was nothing about the AT&T plan to locate a tower on Melville Hill that made economic, engineering or environmental sense.
Throughout the winter and spring, the ZBA, representatives from AT&T, residents of Granite Lake, local cell tower experts, and the conservation commission scrutinized the plan and some of us sought alternative sites. The folks who were against the placement of a tower on Melville Hill did so because of the following reasons: negative impacts to aesthetic and recreational values and abutting conservation lands in the southwest part of town!
Forest fragmentation occurs when land is divided by roads and development. It is the leading cause of wildlife habitat loss and the decline of biodiversity that impacts land everywhere! Forest fragmentation can and must be minimized by good municipal planning on a local and regional basis and by seeking less intrusive alternatives. Constructing a mile of new, permanent access road would unnecessarily fragment a large block of forest land in southwest Stoddard. Local ZBA's and Planning Boards can play a very critical role individually and collectively in controlling fragmentation.
A cell tower located on scenic Melville Hill would have a negative impact on the aesthetic and property values around the lake and in the town of Nelson. The 50-mile MS-Greenway trail, linking the summits of Monadnock & Sunapee passes a short distance to the east would leave a wild section of the hike tamed.
Because of these concerns, the Stoddard conservation commission, working with an independent cell tower specialist, spent considerable time seeking and finding alternative tower sites. Using conventional industry mapping techniques and local knowledge of the land, two viable sites were identified that would:
· Provide much better coverage, including coverage for essential town services (fire, police, town hall, school);
· The sites were close to infrastructure that would provide easy, cost-effective access and power;
· The sites would not fragment the forest nor would they be recreationally or aesthetically offensive.
The identification of these alternative sites was a win/win situation for all parties! It was a "no-brainer"!
Two principle reasons why Stoddard has one of the state's lowest property tax rates: 1) we have a high percentage of summer residents that have cottages on our scenic lakes and pay a disproportionate amount of taxes and send no kids to our schools; and 2) Nearly two thirds of the land base in the town is permanently protected from development. These lands demand no services, send no kids to schools, and are net contributors to the tax base and our quality of life. In fact, the open space is what attracts the summer residents.
It is imperative that members of the ZBA and Planning Board understand this and protect these assets when making decisions, by requiring alternative sites or the least intrusive alternatives, when making land use decisions that will impact conservation, aesthetic, recreation, and property values.
In rendering a decision, the ZBA, by law, must demonstrate that their decision "will not be contrary to public interests", not result in a "hardship" to the applicant, and will not result in a "diminution of value of surround properties". When the ZBA rendered their decision last May they ignored these considerations.
In rendering their decision, the members of the ZBA failed to comprehend the fundamental purpose of and their legal responsibilities as a land use regulatory body, which is to make wise and intelligent land use decisions on behalf of the public; they demonstrated individual and collective incompetence, because they did not grasp one of the salient concerns raised by the conservation commission, which provides objective information about the towns natural resources. But most embarrassingly, to residents that watched them in action, they came across as a group of dysfunctional colloquial Hawnyawk's as they fought, bickered, and treated each other with utter disrespect.
But mostly, they failed to act on behalf of the citizens of Stoddard and help make a decision that would provide better cell phone coverage for a majority of its residents; (which also would have significantly reduced impact to conservation lands, values, and the natural beauty of landmark area of Stoddard).
Stoddard deserves better than this! If you agree, please attend a ZBA meeting this Thursday, 7pm at the town hall, as the Granite Lake Residents will appeal the AT&T decision by the Stoddard ZBA. This meeting is open to the public. Help restore democracy to this process and consider attending.
Geoffrey T. Jones
1 Old Antrim Rd.
Stoddard, NH 03464
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