During the September 21, 2021, Planning Board meeting the board voted unanimously in favor of tabling proposed amendments to Chapter 19 Zoning Ordinance relating to Wireless Amendments and holding a public hearing at the October 19 meeting.  During a workshop on September 7, the Planning Board reviewed the drafted wireless amendments.  Two objectives were set and described in a September 21, Memo from Town Planner Maureen O’Meara: 

First, “essential services” have been added as a permitting use in all zoning districts.  Second, “5G” amendments are proposed to ease regulatory barriers to improve telecommunication services in town.  Specifically, the “5G” amendments allow for installation of telecommunication antennas and support equipment on existing telephone poles as long as the equipment does not increase the pole by more than 10 feet nor extend beyond the surface of the pole by more than 3 feet.

This process began on May 10, when the Town Council referred to the Ordinance Committee a request to propose amendments to add wireless infrastructure as a use to the Zoning Ordinance.  The Ordinance Committee met on June 9 and June 23 before sending Wireless Amendments 6-17-2021  to the Town Council.  During the July 12 meeting, the council voted to send the amendments to the Planning Board.  The Ordinance Committee met once more on July 14, where additional “5G” Wireless Amendments were made and sent to the Town Council.  On August 9 the Town Council voted to send the additional amendments to the Planning Board [Article]. Both wireless amendment packages have been merged into one Wireless Amendments 9-21-2021.