Kennebunk voters will decide next week whether to approve a new land lease agreement that would allow for a cell tower on town-owned land located on Factory Pasture Lane.

At an Aug. 12 meeting, the Kennebunk Select Board discussed the possibility of a new cell tower, supporting the proposal and setting the special town meeting date for Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Stephen Houdlette, director of economic vitality for Kennebunk, said the need for a downtown cell tower goes back “at least a couple decades.”

“It’s a longstanding need in terms of having better communication for the downtown area,” Houdlette said.

The process toward adding a new cell tower began in 2024, when the Economic Development Committee and the town went forward with a request for proposal for a new cell tower.

The town received four proposals, and ultimately decided to work with Wireless Edge Towers.

“I think we found the right partner,” Houdlette said.

Since the beginning of the year, Wireless Edge has been working with the town to consider locations for the cell tower, landing on a parcel of town-owned land on Factory Pasture Lane in February.

Factory Pasture Lane is located between Winter and Water streets. The town skate park is across the road from the proposed tower site, about one-third of a mile from Route 1.

In June, a change to the zoning ordinance for cell towers passed, allowing Wireless Edge to continue moving forward with the project.

If voters approve the land lease agreement for the parcel next week, Wireless Edge hopes to submit a project application to the town this fall.

The principal objective of the project, Houdlette said, is to improve communication in the downtown area not only for residents and businesses, but for emergency services.

“We need that top spot for police and fire equipment,” Houdlette said. “It should improve and expand their communication capacity in the downtown area.”

For residents, the cell tower could improve day-to-day communication downtown.

Select Board Secretary Lisa Pratt said she recently had an experience where her young son was at the skate park on Factory Pasture Lane when his bike chain fell off, and he couldn’t get home.

Normally, he would be able to call a family member for help, but with no cell service in the area, that was not an option.

“As a parent, that was pretty disturbing,” Pratt said. “He had to walk until he could get cell service. I’m hoping the cell tower will improve that and make it a little safer for our kiddos.”

“I hear a lot of stories like that,” Houdlette said.

But not all residents are in favor of the cell tower.

Tom Errico, who lives on Park Street, said he is concerned about the process that has taken place in terms of informing the abutting neighborhood.

“I work at home. Cell service is not great in downtown Kennebunk, and I’m sympathetic about the need to improve cell service,” Errico said. “But there hasn’t been enough engagement so people are completely informed about this project.”

Errico, who is a transportation engineer, also said he is concerned about the timeframe of the project.

“I don’t think this needs to be rushed,” he said.

Board Chair Miriam Whitehouse said there will be an opportunity for community members to weigh in and discuss the project before it goes to vote at the special meeting next week.

“I want people to understand that there will be an opportunity to voice their concerns and to influence the way the project goes,” Whitehouse said.

The special town meeting will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 5:30 p.m. in the Select Board Meeting Room at Town Hall.