SCARBOROUGH – The Scarborough Planning Board has called a proposal that would allow cell towers to be constructed in virtually every zone in town too broad and said more work needs to be done to ensure that the town has maximum coverage with minimal impact.

The board held a public hearing on Monday, and the consensus among the members was that the proposal required more work before they could be satisfied.

“There is still lots that can be done to make the proposal better,” said Chairman Allen Paul. “I appreciate all the hard work that’s gone into it; however, we need to get this right the first time.”

The hearing drew a couple residents and two attorneys representing cellular telephone companies.

The residents who spoke were Suzanne Foley-Ferguson and Elisa Boxer, who has been at the forefront of the fight against the installation of smart meters by Central Maine Power.

Both women said the town should not rush into allowing cell towers in all areas, particularly near schools or densely populated neighborhoods, due to the health risks they said are associated with such towers and the radio frequency radiation they emit.

Scarborough only allows cell towers in industrial zones, but the new proposal would allow the construction of cell and wireless data transmission towers in nearly all sections of town in an effort to improve service.

In addition, the new rules would allow towers to be built up to 150 feet in height, while also requiring that any new tower be constructed to accommodate multiple providers.

Foley-Ferguson, a former town councilor, said she’s been active in the fight against smart meters for the past four years and has learned a lot about the dangers of radio frequency radiation in that time.

She’s concerned that the proposal does not cap the total number of such towers and that they can be allowed near neighborhoods or along scenic roadways.

Foley-Ferguson also questioned whether allowing cell towers, particularly in rural zones, would fit with the goals of the town’s comprehensive plan, which calls for Scarborough to retain its rural character.

“The fact is this is a major change in use and it’s safe to say the public hasn’t heard much about it,” she said. “I would urge caution, and we should be smart about (where we are) locating” these towers.

Boxer said one of the reasons she bought her house in the Pleasant Hill area of Scarborough is specifically because the nearest cell tower is more than a half-mile away.

“Every study ever done shows there is biological harm,” she said, caused by radio frequency radiation and said it seemed like the cell tower proposal was “being fast-tracked.”

Boxer added, “I know that people want a strong signal, but not at all costs.”

She asked the Planning Board to “take the time to look at all the research and keep all new towers in industrial zones or at least a half-mile from where children sleep.”

Kelly Bowden, an attorney with Verrill Dana who was at the meeting representing Verizon Wireless, said Scarborough’s current cell tower ordinance is “archaic and restrictive” and said she’s been working with town officials for more than a year to broaden the coverage.

Bowden said Scarborough needs “both increased cellular and data capacity” and said the Planning Board could not use health concerns as a primary reason for disallowing cell towers within certain zones because that would be in violation of the federal telecommunications act.

Barry Hobbins, a lawyer from Saco who was representing AT&T at the meeting, agreed with Bowden and said that in addition to only allowing cell towers in industrial zones, Scarborough’s current height limit has worked to “frustrate co-location” efforts.

Hobbins also argued that expanding the number of zones where cell towers are allowed would add to the town’s “economic viability,” as well as increase the ability of public safety officials to communicate.

He said with the cell tower proposal pending before the Planning Board, “this community has finally stepped up to the plate and provided for future development.”

And, Hobbins said, “the science so far” does not show there are any negative health effects from the radio frequency radiation emitted by cell and wireless data towers.

“You have to base your decisions on the scientific protocol and the rule of law,” he told the Planning Board.

But Foley-Ferguson said if the board wanted to get the “correct information” on the health impacts of cell towers it should “ask someone with no financial interest.” She also urged the board to “plan responsibly.”

Planning Board member Ronald Mazer said he would like to have more time to review the possibility of limiting the total number of new towers, as well as having a chance to do “more investigation” before making a final decision on whether to support the new cell tower rules.

Mazer also said he would agree with keeping cell towers away from schools and densely populated areas of town, which was also the position taken by Cory Fellows.

Fellows said he would like to see the Town Council “consider proximity and maybe putting a limit in some areas.” In all, he would like to see the council “continue to exercise due diligence” before implementing the new rules.

Nicholas McGee, the first alternate on the Planning Board, said he still has a lot of questions and said it would be “problematic” to open all the zones in town to cell tower construction.

“I am not comfortable with the current proposal,” he said.

Susan Auglis, the second alternate, called the ordinance as proposed “imperfect” and said although she lives in one of the areas of town that is underserved, “I don’t want to see cell towers all over the place.”

Board member David Bouffard seemed to be the only one who fully supported the new rules.

“There is a need for more towers. Scarborough has grown tremendously, especially in the rural areas, and (this proposal) is long overdue,” he said.

Town Planner Dan Bacon said that a study done by an independent consultant showed that in order to provide “very good service” all across town, between seven and nine new cell towers are needed.

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A CLOSER LOOK

The Scarborough Town Council will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, regarding a proposal to expand where cell towers could be built.

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