NAHANT— The Nahant Planning Board met Tuesday evening, with its primary discussion focused on a special permit application to modify the existing cell phone tower at 98R Nahant Road.

Chair Sheila Hambleton quickly noted the importance of the site, explaining that multiple services rely on the tower. “The police antennas are on that same tower,” she said. “It’s very important that they’re on the tower for their communications to work, as well as the cell antennas.”

According to the proposal, the applicant is seeking to replace the existing 60-foot tower with a new 90-foot structure. Hambleton described how the plan depicts the change. “It says, ‘Existing 60-foot tower to be removed.’ So, it looks like they are going to remove the tower that’s currently there, take that down, and then next to it, in an area, replace a whole new flagpole.”

Board members then engaged in an extended discussion, raising questions about logistics and seeking legal guidance on the permitting process.

Member Casey Carey asked, “Who pays the $5,000?” Hambleton clarified that Crown Castle would cover the fee, which would be used to hire a consultant. She also suggested that the board visit the site to better understand the proposal.

“We have the right to in our bylaw, that we have the right to go up to it. And we should all go,” Hambleton said. “I don’t know about getting in, because it should be wired and secured, but we can go up to the area and at least look in at the area and walk around the fence.”

The Planning Board has 30 days, until Feb. 6, to raise any objections to the application and 60 days to approve it. In the meantime, members agreed to gather more information before moving forward.

“I think we ought to know what we’re going to do about this and how we’re going to proceed, well within the 30 days,” said member Anne Mary Grady.