On August 24, 2001, Crown Atlantic Company LLC (Crown) and Cellco Partnership (Cellco) d/b/a Verizon, applied to the Connecticut Siting Council (Council) for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a cellular telecommunications facility in the Town of Chaplin, Connecticut. Spint Spectrum L. P. d/b/a Sprint PCS became an intervenor.  The proposed number one site is located at 31 Ridge Road Chaplin, Connecticut, in a Rural Agricultural Zoning district.  Access would be along a 500-foot driveway and then continue another 280 feet along an easement.  The proposed number two site at Lot 54 Palmer Road, Chaplin, Connecticut, is also within a Rural Agricultural Zoning district.  Access would be along an existing logging road for a distance of approximately 2200 feet.

The proposed number one tower is within an area of forest, and would be visible from several nearby roads such as Ridge Road, Bedlam Road, and Route 198.  Eleven homes stand within a 1000-foot radius of this proposed site.  The proposed number two tower would be significantly less visible.  Only one home stands within a 1000-foot radius of the proposed tower site, and this tower would only be visible from Bedlam Road.

Both of the proposed towers would provide needed coverage to local roads and to nearby Route 6 and Route 198.  The Council gave consideration to the use of existing towers in the Chaplin area, but now concludes that such existing towers, although offering significant coverage to Routes 6, and 198, do not in this case equal the projected coverage from the proposed number one and two towers.

Electromagnetic radio frequency power density levels are a concern of the Council.  However, the radio frequency power density levels at the base of either proposed tower would be well below federal and State standards for the frequencies used by wireless companies.  If federal or state standards change, the Council will require that the tower be brought into compliance with such standards.  The Council will require that the power densities be remodeled in the event other carriers add antennas to this tower.

Based on the record in this proceeding, we find that the effects associated with the construction, operation, and maintenance of the telecommunications facility at the proposed number two site, including effects on the natural environment; ecological integrity and balance; public health and safety; scenic, historic, and recreational values; forests and parks; air and water purity; and fish and wildlife are not disproportionate either alone or cumulatively with other effects, and are not sufficient reason to deny this application.
 

Therefore, we will issue a Certificate for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a telecommunications facility at the proposed number two Chaplin site and deny certification of the proposed number one Chaplin site.  Although the applicant propsed the Chaplin tower as a 180-foot structure, the Council will order the construction of a monopole no greater than 150 feet in height, which will satisfy the coverage needs of both Cellco and Sprint PCS in the Chaplin area.