Property Values to be Discussed at T-Mobile Hearing

T-Mobile is returning to the zoning board for possibly the final time Tuesday—and residents are bringing an expert to discuss the possibility of cell towers lowering property values.

At a December zoning board meeting, the board approved a request from resident Joe Kirk to hire a real estate appraiser to investigate the possibility of property values being lowered because of cell towers. Appraiser Robert Heffernan is expected to discuss how a tower at the Green Knoll Volunteer Fire Company will affect the nearby residences.

Kirk has said that this is the only piece of testimony the board of adjustment has not been privy to at this point.

The presentation will be given at Tuesday's meeting.

Following the presentation, and an opportunity for information to be presented from an expert with the applicant, the board is expected to hear additional public comment on the presentation, followed by a possible vote on the application. The applicant already finished presenting its witnesses, and the board had an initial opportunity to deliberate in December.

The T-Mobile application is for a 125-foot cell tower at the Green Knoll Volunteer Fire Company. The application was initially presented in August 2010, and testimony has continued since then.

If approved, the tower will have six directional antennas and two GPS antennas within the tower.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the courtroom in the municipal complex.