Petition No. 749
Nextel Communications, Inc.
3 Edmond Road, Newtown
Staff Report

On December 1, 2005, Nextel Communications, Inc. (Nextel) submitted a petition to the Connecticut Siting Council (Council) for a declaratory ruling that no Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need is required for the extension of an approved wireless telecommunications tower located at 3 Edmond Road in Newtown, Connecticut. On December 12, 2005, Council member Edward S. Wilensky and Council staff member Robert Mercier met with Nextel representatives Christopher B. Fisher, Marc Anderson, and Yvan Joseph at the site to review this petition.

Nextel proposes to place a 10-foot extension on a 130-foot monopole owned by Optasite. The facility was approved by the Council on December 22, 2003, and is currently under construction. The 130-foot tower has been erected. Nextel proposes to mount an antenna platform supporting 12 panel antennas at a centerline height 137 feet above ground level (agl). The overall height of the facility with antennas would be 140 feet agl.

During the docket proceeding, T-Mobile originally proposed to construct a 150-foot monopole at the site; however, the Council determined a tower height of 130 feet would be sufficient to meet the coverage needs of T-Mobile. During the docket decision process, visual impacts of a 150-foot tower were assessed and determined to be insignificant by the Council. A tower design that could support a tower extension to 150 feet was included in the Development and Management Plan approved by the Council.

Nextel would install a 12-foot by 20-foot equipment shelter within the 50-foot by 50-foot compound. No expansion of the compound is necessary.

The Federal Aviation Administration determined the 140-foot tower would not require obstruction marking or lighting.