Public opposition to Hartland cell tower mounts

Drawings show a proposed 160-foot cell tower off Town Farm Hill Road in Hartland, Vt., relative to the tree line. (Courtesy DuBois & King Inc.) —
Published: 01-07-2025 5:01 PM |
HARTLAND — The Planning Commission indicated at a meeting last week that it would oppose a proposed 160-foot cell tower off Town Farm Hill Road, near Hartland Four Corners.
“Our job is to defend the town plan, and the town plan says you don’t build on rural land,” Chairman David Dukeshire said at a Thursday evening meeting.
Much of Hartland, including the site of the proposed cell tower, is designated in the town plan as a “rural area,” which is restricted to mostly low-density residential development.
On “previously undeveloped hilltops,” the town plan says, “no structures may break the natural tree canopy or disturb the silhouette of high points of land.”
The project site, at 232 Town Farm Hill Road, includes a single-family residence on 146 acres of property.
In November, a Massachusetts-based telecommunications company, Industrial Wireless Technologies, Inc., notified the town of its intent to file an application for the cellular tower with the Public Utility Commission.
The services provided through the tower will be targeted to “business customers seeking a reliable, reasonably-priced means of communicating between their offices and remote users,” the company’s letter of intent said. No wireless carriers have yet signed on to use the tower, but the company’s letter said that it hopes to attract wireless carriers looking to expand their networks and provide “more reliable cell service to residents and visitors.”
The project would include an 80-foot by 80-foot compound enclosed by an 8-foot-high chain link fence, according to the project description provided by the cell tower company. Five antennas are planned for the tower, with four extending to 173 feet above ground, which would make the structure roughly 15 stories tall.
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In 2023, the Public Utilities Commission denied Industrial Wireless Technologies’ request for a proposed 140-foot cell tower in Enosburg, writing in its order of denial that the proposed structure was “taller and more obtrusive" than necessary.
The Hartland Planning Commission will seek residents’ input in a public meeting Wednesday to shape the concerns it will raise with Industrial Wireless Technology and the Public Utilities Commission, or PUC, regarding the tower. The PUC is responsible for regulating utilities in the state.
The town of Hartland, meanwhile, is working to coordinate a joint meeting with the company, the Planning Commission, Selectboard, and members of the public toward the end of this month, Selectboard Chairman Phil Hobbie said Friday.
So far, the public response to the plan has been one of consistent opposition. Of the 14 public comments that had been registered with the Public Utilities Commission as of Friday afternoon, there were no comments in support of the tower.
“The idea of a cell tower at that location is absolutely outrageous and unnecessary. I think it's an insult to our environment,” Hartland resident Peter Luquer said to the commission at Thursday’s meeting.
The permitting process for telecommunication facilities is governed by V.S.A. § 248a, commonly called the “248a process.”
Town and regional plans are given “substantial deference” in the 248a process, according to the statute. That deference means that the plans they must be considered reasonable and valid even though they are not binding on the Public Utility Commission’s decision.
After 60 days of filing the intent, the company may formally apply to the Public Utility Commission for a “certificate of public good,” allowing it to proceed with the project.
The letter of intent did not raise any red flags for the Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission.
“We didn’t note any major concerns from a regional plan perspective, Two Rivers planner Bryan Kovalick said by phone.
“The town hasn’t asked us to become involved so I don’t believe we’ll submit any comments to the Public Utilities Commission on this,” he added.
In the end, the Public Utilities Commission is the “ultimate decision-maker,” Kovalick said.
The Planning Commission’s public meeting will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at Damon Hall and via Zoom. The commission’s agendas, along with meeting Zoom links, may be found on the Town of Hartland’s website: hartland.govoffice.com.
Christina Dolan can be reached at cdolan@vnews.com or 603-727-3208.