Saugus board rejects cell tower proposal

SAUGUS – The standing-room-only crowd at Thursday night?s Board of Appeals meeting erupted into applause as the board voted 4-1 to reject a bid by T-Mobile to build a 90-foot cell tower at the Little League field next to the Veterans School on Hurd Avenue.?I?m very pleased,” said Hurd Avenue resident Talisa Rafferty, an outspoken critic of the project. “I?m glad they voted against it. People need to speak up and fight for their rights and hopefully you have a good town and people that will stand up with you.”Rafferty started an online petition against the project on July 12 and brought with her 93 signatures to the meeting.?I?m very happy,” said Mark Rafferty, Talisa?s husband. “Residential areas need to stay residential. I think it was a good turn out and people should definitely voice their opinions. I think enough people showed up to show them.”T-Mobile first appeared before the Appeals Board in June to apply for a variance that would allow them to build a cell tower at the field, which is in a residential area.The original plan called for a 95-foot “stealth” tower that would replace an existing 60-foot light pole along the third base line. There was also to be a 1,400 square foot equipment compound located 10 feet from the site with an access road coming from left field.T-Mobile made several changes to the plan, including a reduction in the size of the compound and moving the access road to Hurd Avenue.?I do think this public process has resulted in a much better design overall and it?s taken into account a lot of the concerns that came up with the abutters,” said T-Mobile zoning manager Jackie Slaga.But opposition grew as representatives from T-Mobile held a site walk-through on July 11, followed by Thursday night?s meeting when opponents packed the hearing room at the Saugus Library.Potential health effects from radiation were the main cause of concern for neighbors, especially since the tower would sit next to a school.Dr. Donald Haes, a radiation safety specialist, was also on hand and said any radio frequencies given off by the tower would be far less then federal required minimums, but it wasn?t enough to satisfy the board and those in attendance, as board member Peter Bogdan provided the only yes vote.?I think it was a fair decision and they listened to the people,” said Phillips Avenue resident Diana Reed. “I think it?s a good thing that people can come and voice their opinion and our politicians listen to them.”