There are 50 articles on the Town Meeting warrant this year, ranging from "housekeeping" items to approving the budgets for the town and for the schools.
As with a warrant article last year that focused on changing restrictions on zoning bylaws, this year, a controversial subject in town involves articles 33 and 34.
Article 33 pertains to adopting a Revised Radio Communications facilities bylaw. If adopted, this bylaw would replaces the existing Wireless Communictions Facilities bylaw.
Accoring to Kathy Joubert, town planner, the proposed bylaw was prepared by the Planning Board in response to residents asking if the existing bylaw could be updated to lessen the number of cell towers in town. Consulting with wireless communications facilities, the board, for the past two years, has worked on this bylaw. A consultant was hired in October of 2012 to draft the final proposal.
As submitted by Joubert, the major changes in the new bylaw are summarized as follows:
1. Cell towers no longer will be restricted to be a mile apart from each other and more than one cell tower will be allowed per site. This will encourage future cell tower providers to consider locating another tower on the site of an existing tower thereby reducing the visual impact of cell towers on multiple sites throughout the town.
2. Cell antennas will be now be allowed by Special Permit on the rooftops of municipal buildings which includes schools. Before an applicant reaches the Special Permit stage with the Planning Board, the cell provider must first approach the Board of Selectmen to determine if the Selectmen are interested in leasing municipal property. If the selectmen are interested, the lease option must be approved by Town Meeting. If Town Meeting votes to approve the lease arrangement, then the applicant would apply for a Special Permit from the Planning Board.
3. The setbacks have been aligned with each other and made more consistent. The setback for a cell tower from a school property line will be changed from the current 1000 feet to 500 feet. 500 feet is the setback for residential districts and schools are located in residential districts.
Joubert added that Article 34 is necessary if Article 33 is approved, as Article 34 makes adjustments to other sections of the soning bylaw that references cell towers. Joubert and Rick Leif, chairman of the Planning Board, attended the Northborough School Committee meeting on March 6 to present the bylaw to the committtee members.
"We did not seek a vote from the School Committee," said Joubert. "We were there to discuss the bylaw and make them aware of the proposed changes to the bylaw."
While some residents are in favor of the bylaw update, others are concerned. Northborough resident Janice Fournier submitted a blog to Northborough Patch earlier in April, and writes, "Possible health issues are still being studied and some of these studies are worrisome. I know towers can bring in money but is it worth exposing teachers and children several hours a day to a possible health risk?"
What are your thoughts on the proposed changes? Will you vote for or against it at Town Meeting on Monday?