On July 28, 2004, Tower Ventures II, LLC (Tower Ventures) applied to the Connecticut Siting Council (Council) for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (Certificate) for the construction, maintenance and operation of a wireless telecommunications facility to be located in the Town of North Branford, Connecticut. Tower Ventures is seeking to develop a facility at one of two proposed sites. One site is located at 26 Commerce Drive (Site A-1) on property owned and occupied by the ARTEC Machinery Corporation. The other site is located at 1177 Foxon Road (Site A-2) on property used and occupied by the Albert Trucking Company. Tower Ventures’ objective in locating a facility in this vicinity is to provide service to the Route 22, Route 80, and Route 139 corridors in North Branford.

At the Commerce Drive site, Tower Ventures would erect a 178-foot tall monopole within an equipment compound that would measure 40 feet by 75 feet and would be enclosed by a chain link fence. At the Foxon Road site, Tower Ventures would erect a 150-foot tall monopole within a 58-foot by 58-foot enclosed compound.

Vehicular access to both sites would be over existing parking areas. The Commerce Drive site is paved with asphalt and is used for access and parking for the Machinery Corporation and other small businesses on the same property. The Foxon Road site is paved with crushed stone.

Tower Ventures would bring utilities to either site from existing utility poles at the edge of the properties underground to the location of the proposed equipment compound.

Because both potential sites are located on developed, paved properties, there would be no trees removed to develop either site.

Although the Commerce Drive site would be visible from more acreage than the Foxon Road site, the Council feels that the qualitative visual impact would be less from the Commerce Drive site.

There are no known existing populations of state endangered, threatened, or species of special concern at the proposed site. A facility at this location would not have any effect on architectural or archaeological resources.

The radio frequency power density levels at the base of the 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 the tower.

Based on the record of this proceeding, the Council concludes that a facility at the Commerce Drive site would allow for better coverage to the target area and that a tower could be erected to a height lower than the proposed 178 feet and still provide effective coverage.

The Council finds that the effects associated with the construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed telecommunications facility, 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 when compared to need, are not in conflict with policies of the State concerning such effects, and are not sufficient reason to deny this application. Therefore, the Council will issue a Certificate for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a 155-foot monopole tower with T-bar mounted antennas and associated ground equipment on the property located at 26 Commerce Drive and will deny certification for the property located at 1177 Foxon Road in North Branford, Connecticut.