SANFORD — The zoning committee of the city council will meet Thursday morning to get some more questions answered about a bid by a company that wants to build a 160-foot-high communications tower off Oak Street.

The city council Tuesday held a public hearing and first reading of a request by Mariner Tower for a contract zone to build the tower, which is designed to improve cellphone reception in Springvale for AT&T customers.

But questions from a city councilor and objections from three residents prompted the issue’s referral to the zoning subcommittee. Mayor Tom Cote held the public hearing open to the next meeting, set for Feb. 18, when a second reading and vote is also expected.

Residents expressed concern about the visual impact and other factors.

Merrell Clarke, a direct abutter to the proposed tower, said he’s not in favor of the tower.

“I’ll be looking at it off my back deck every day,” he said.

James Drummey, whose property also abuts the proposed tower, noted there are streams at the back of the property where the tower is proposed to be placed, and he speculated overhead utility poles will require a wider swath than Mariner Tower representative Christopher Ciolfi indicated it would.

The proposal has already passed muster with the town’s planning board.

Jace Clarke, who said he owns property across the road from the proposed tower site, said contrary to the planning board’s findings, he believes the tower is inconsistent with the city’s comprehensive plan. He suggested an independent study to determine if the site is the only one available. He said he believes it would set the wrong precedent to locate a cell tower in an area the city refers to as a conservation area, and spoke of a need to strike a balance.

The location is off a logging road on property owned by Richard and Patrick Bond.

Ciolfi said the company will upgrade the existing logging road with gravel and said it won’t be more than 12 feet wide. The company will install a gate to prevent vehicular traffic. Ciolfi estimated the road is 1,500 to 1,700 feet long, and will be modified to avoid wetlands. He said less than an acre of land will be cleared.

Councilor Alan Walsh said he wasn’t satisfied that the project wouldn’t impact the culture of the neighborhood, had concerns about light pollution and pointed out that those seeking contract zones commonly make a contribution to local projects.

Ciolfi pointed out that Mariner Tower has offered free antenna space on the tower to Sanford’s public safety agencies, and said the proposed tower, at 160 feet, won’t require lighting. He pledged that the company won’t be back in a few years, seeking to extend the height. He said the tower is an open lattice design.

Mayor Tom Cote said he also had some concerns, one of them being that the final paperwork had arrived from the city attorney’s office just moments before the council meeting commenced.

Drummey suggested placing the utilities underground, but others said that would be more of a disruption of the property than the overhead utilities.

City Manager Steve Buck pointed out there are visual impacts associated with other activities, like logging.

“I hope everyone finds the balance,” he said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.