By Lucas Willard
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-1000940.mp3
Pittsfield, MA – Last month, the proposed AT&T cell phone tower in Williamstown moved back to the decision of the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee after a proposed site adjacent to the high hchool on Oblong Road was deemed unsuitable. A species of plant called "Hitchcock's Sedge" which is classified by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program as a species of special, was found during a survey of the adjoining property, leading to the decision to abandon plans on the site. WAMC spoke with Williamstown Town Planner Andrew Groff in December.
The decision went back to the high school, but the school committee did not take action on Tuesday evening, when a decision was due to be made. The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee had previously signed a contract with builder of the towers, Florida Tower Partners, to place the towers on school property.
School Committee Chair Bob Ericson explains
Ericson explained that the cell tower would have provided a source of revenue for the school district.
The decision bounced back to the hands of the Williamstown Zoning Board of Appeals
Yesterday evening, the ZBA voted unanimously against granting Florida Towers a building permit to construct the AT&T on the southwest corner of the Mount Greylock school property. In addition, a second motion was also approved to deny further permitting to AT&T to build on the proposed site due to scenic reasons. Because the alternatives in place were not approved, including an alternate location on the school property, and the Oblong Road site, the tower currently has no place to go. Chairman of the Williamstown Zoning Board of Appeals Andrew Hoar said that this does not necessarily mean the end for an AT&T tower in the area.
The North Adams Transcript reports that Attorney Edward Pare Jr. stated that AT&T and Florida Tower Partners will wait until a written decision is issued by the ZBA before they decide what to do next.
Residents of Williamstown have expressed concerns over scenic values being lost, and worries over health effects from cell signal radiation.
The question now remains, "When will Northern Berkshire County receive an upgrade to its current spotty wireless signals."?