Description
As a resident of the North End of Torrington, I'm concerned about some news (possibly gossip) about the construction of a large and powerful WiFi tower in our neighborhood. It might be like those 100 or 200 foot tall steel structures we see on hilltops or alongside highways. Also, I've heard the tower may be erected on the grounds of the old Warrenton Woolen Mill, which is now a residential property. Or, if not at the old Mill, it might be built somewhere else in the North End.
If true, I believe this news is very important and should be reported to.all North End residents in terms of the journalist's 5 Ws (Who, What, Where, When Why). After all, aren't the larger WiFi towers (especially the really big ones) normally built on the outskirts of a town, on far away hilltops, or along highways (where we drive past them) -- not stationed in the center of a busy, heavily populated neighborhood? Putting a WiFi tower in the center of a neighborhood with so many homes, condos, apartments, schools, stores and other places frequented by people of all ages would be big news if true. But is this story true, or is it just a rumor going around?
Please, anyone with any information about this, would you share it with the general public here? Also, the local and area news media should look into this, and especially if found to be true, let us know precisely what they've discovered. WiFi towers erected in residential neighborhoods can sometimes be extremely controversial, and the residents of Torrington -- especially those who live in the North End -- have a right to know whenever something significant is being planned for their neighborhood. And this is well beyond significant, if true.
6 Comments
franktroha (Registered User)
Let's look at the law. According to Torrington's own regs (copied below), it seems to me you can't have people living within a radius of the height of the tower itself. That would rule out just about every location on the North End. In other words, if the tower is 100 feet high, nobody can live within 100 feet of the tower. Here follows the reg, and if any local attorneys would like to confirm or deny my interpretation of the local law copied below, please do:
"A5.2 Setback
In order to ensure public safety, the minimum distance from the base of any new proposed ground-mounted tower to any property line, road, habitable dwelling, business or institutional use, or public recreational area shall be the height of the tower including any antennas or other appurtenances."
Norm (Registered User)
I've discovered the amount of money at stake could be pretty amazing. Regardless of the regulations on cell towers mentioned above, it might be possible to get around them with a variance, for example. That could be a good thing. The community of New Fairfield, it's reported, gets $125,000 a year for their tower, and they seem okay with the amount. I don't know if they've used a professional WiFi negotiator to get the best possible deal out of the telecom company that uses their tower, but if they haven't, they might be leaving a huge chunk of change on the table. But that's their business.
For a town that I've heard is struggling for money, Torringto might do well to have such a cash-generating tower, as would the Warrenton Mill condo complex, as long as the money to be made is high enough to offset any disadvantages that might come with such a potentially controversial structure set in the middle of a densely populated residential area. But is there even a deal to be had in the foreseeable future, or is this all pie in the sky? For anyone who owns at the Warrenton Mill, this could be a huge windfall, if it were to happen at the right price. Just think -- maybe it could almost cut every condo owner's monthly common charges in half. (I think it could easily do that, just based on the money New Fairfield gets). And if the Warrenton Mill doesn't get the tower for itself, maybe the City of Torrington could get it and use the proceeds from it to defray our relatively high property taxes. In addition, maybe the city could put the tower on a hill on the outskirts of town, so fewer residents would have to look at it.
To read about the financial deal in New Fairfield (potentially worth millions over time), just plug the following words in your search engine: "New Fairfield board denies 40-year cell tower offer" It seems we can do at least as well, since it seems to me New Fairfield isn't exactly pushing for a better deal.
Iif anyone has anything to add regarding this rumored opportunity for the North End of Torrington, please share what you've heard. God knows we could use the revenue,.Unfortunately, we seem to be woefully short on information about what seems like a potentially major story, and oddly enough it seems nobody's talking.
Closed Keep it Clean (Registered User)
Reopened Guest (Registered User)
Keep it Clean (Registered User)
Jack Mc Keon (Registered User)