Controversial Westport Point Cell Tower Project Gets Green Light

For about a year now, residents of the Westport Point area have fought plans to locate a cell tower there. Construction of the cell tower will proceed.

The Herald News cites United States District Court records in reporting on an agreement between the town and the cell tower company that resolves the matter.

Municipal Communications first proposed the 150-foot AT&T cell tower at 67 Masquesatch Road in August 2021. The Westport Zoning Board of Appeals denied the company's application for a variance or special permit required for the project.

Litigation followed.

In accordance with the agreement, the newspaper reported the tower will be constructed at 67 Mashquesatch Road and "shall be of monopole design with a low profile, flush, or closely-mounted antennae, to be as unobtrusive and similar to the existing tower at 1065 Horseneck Rd."

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Opponents of the cell tower are concerned that it would be an eyesore and could potentially have a negative impact on tourism.

Inside Towers.com says Municipal Communications did agree to "plant and maintain in perpetuity additional non-invasive plantings on all sides of the outside of the facility's security fence on the site to provide additional screening. Existing on-site vegetation and natural screening shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible."

The site quotes Zoning Board of Appeals member Raymond Elias, the only board member to vote in favor of the original proposal: "It would have cost the town a lot of money (to continue the legal battle)." Elias spoke as a private citizen and not in his role as a ZBA member.

"They (Municipal Communications) would have prevailed if they had gone forward," he said.

No one appears to debate the need for another cell tower in that part of town but some wonder if all other options have been considered.