Verizon to test visibility for Wilton cell tower
The new monopole coverage radius would be roughly half a mile and would stretch east past Danbury Road, west to Ridgefield Road, north to the high school complex and south to Merwin Meadows.
WILTON — The site for a proposed 123-foot monopole cell tower on School Road will have its second visibility test on Friday.
Verizon will perform a “red balloon” test, where a large red balloon will be inflated and lifted by a crane to the height of the proposed structure and photographs will be taken from various sites to see how visible the proposed cell tower would be to residents and passersby.
The town chose to partner with Verizon late last year. The cellular provider will lease the land and ostensibly own the monopole as long as the contract is continuously renewed. Other carriers may end up also providing service by adding equipment on the monopole, as Verizon cannot deny other carriers to co-locate with them.
Another test is happen
ing now because the majority of leaves are no longer on the surrounding trees, Coordinator of Community Affairs Sarah Gioffre said.
Photos will first be taken from the Bus Barn property from 9 a.m. to noon.
Verizon will also take photos from the private property of numerous residents. Residents were made aware of the opportunity to have photos taken from their property and Verizon has been in contact with them, Gioffre said
Based on requests made by nearby residents, the crane will be shifted to an alternate location within the Bus Barn property on School Road from 1 to 4 p.m.
Department of Public Works Head Frank Smeriglio and First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice were not immediately available for comment on whether there would be more visibility studies beyond Friday.
Verizon held a public information session in early November to make nearby residents aware of the upcoming visibility test. During the meeting, the cell provider also explained the area of coverage the new cell tower would bring.
Based on a map provided by Verizon, the new monopole coverage radius would be roughly half a mile and would stretch east past Danbury Road, west to
Ridgefield Road, north to the high school complex and south to Merwin Meadows.
Vanderslice said the town has received numerous complaints about cell phone signals, and that grievances from residents have increased over the years as more people have been forced to depend on cellphones and the town population has increased.