By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — A cell tower is being proposed on private property near Sebago State Park.

The purpose of the tower will be to fill a gap in the coverage area and to prevent calls from being dropped, according to the representatives of the project being proposed by Verizon Wireless.

Last week, the Naples Planning Board heard the site plan review for the 124-foot tall cell tower.

On Dec. 3, starting at 3:30 p.m., there will be site walk on the lot. 

The plans call for a 120-foot tall tower plus a 4-foot-high lightning rod on 100 by 100 square feet of leased land, located on 26 Wilderness Way, according to Mark Beaudoin, with Nixon Peabody, LLP. 

Wilderness Way is accessible off State Park Road. Along that road, there is a licensed junkyard, Outback Salvage.

Scott and Kendra Kimball own the undeveloped land being considered for the cell tower project.

“It’ll be on a heavily forested lot, kind of in the back, away from any residences,” Beaudoin told the board.

Additionally, there is an existing to the site off Wilderness Way, where Verizon would like to build the tower. 

Beaudoin explained the reason the tower is being proposed.

“There is a lack of coverage for Verizon service in this area of town. There is a gap in coverage that we are trying to make better,” he said.

Five or six years ago, the industry built 200-feet tall towers. Now-a-days, that height is less necessary.

“There is sweet spot of not too tall, not to short to fill the gap, to allow everyone to have seamless coverage,” Beaudoin said. 

“It is very important not only the topography and height, but these towers have to be so close and so far away. It is like shaking hands. You can’t have it too close, it is duplicative, or if it’s too far away while you are driving, you will drop a call.”

The proposed location is “smack dab in the middle of a coverage area,” he said.

“If the proposed site is permitted and constructed, [the tower] would service Route 114, Route 11, Sebago Road, State Park Road, Thompson Point Road, Sebago Lake State Park and surrounding businesses,” he said. “We think that is quite a dramatic change in coverage, where there wasn’t before.”

Planning board member Marty Zartarian expressed his concerns about the town’s height ordinance and also health issues from radio frequencies.

“The Ordinance limits height to a 50-foot tower,” Zartarian said.

“That analysis was done and 120 feet was the lowest it could go. This pole would have Verizon on top, and would carry three other carriers . . .  It has to be 120 feet to be in that sweet spot,” Beaudoin said. “These frequencies don’t go through trees or through mountains unfortunately.”

Additionally, it was mentioned that the applicant had also put in an application with the Naples Zoning of Appeals to request a waiver of the town ordinance, limiting the tower’s height to 50 feet.

Later in the meeting, Chairman Doug Bogdan said the history of that ordinance was because the fire department’s ladder did not extend beyond 50 feet. That has since changed.

Zartarian asked how many Verizon towers have additional carriers on them. It seems like they would be helping out competitors.

“The more carriers, the more rent we can get,” Beaudoin answered.

Another Verizon representative Paul Slotemaker who works for Tilson, a telecommunications company based in Portland, spoke. He explained how the site was selected.

“Verizon approached us and wanted a new wireless facility. They circled on the map that it needs to be in this location to fill the service gaps,” he said.

The Sebago Lake State Park declined the request to put a cell tower on its land. Two Naples property owners expressed interest.

“The Kimballs’ land is very near the center of the search area,” Slotemaker said. “The subject property is fantastic property because it is large. We are able to located it 150 feet from the road. There is an existing road. The nearest property on Wilderness Way is owned by the Kimballs. You have large distances, a large setback from neighbors,”

Some of the abutters were in the audience, but they did not speak since that occurs during the public hearing.

“It’s a monocle tower. A monocle has a newer, thinner design. [It’ll be located] within a 60-by-60 foot fenced compound base to secure the ground equipment,” Slotemaker said.

Zartarian asked if there was a light atop the tower.

“No, an FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] report was done, and a light was not required,” Slotemaker answered.

“It is a pretty small scope of work. It is unoccupied, no one works there. There is an emergency backup generator. If there is a storm, if something goes on and the power goes out, you want your phones to work,” he said.