WESTFIELD – The Planning Board will conduct a public hearing Tuesday to hear details of a petition submitted by Verizon Wireless to enhance its 4G LTE service in Westfield.
Verizon is seeking a special permit to erect a transmitter at 1029 North Road, the Hampton Ponds Plaza, which is zoned Business A and which is in the Water Resource overlay zone.
Verizon currently has a transmitter in Westfield off Turnpike Industrial Road, as well as transmitters in Southampton off College Highway, in Holyoke off Apremont Way, and in West Springfield off Prospect Avenue.
“These sites currently provide 4G LTE data service to our customers,” Verizon Engineer Juan F. Latorre III stated in the application. “Our objective is to provide additional 4G LTE capacities and coverage to Westfield, which will improve the experience of our customers.”
“The proposed Westfield NE2 installation will deliver 4G LTE service along approximately 3.3 miles of Route 202 (North Road) and along approximately 2.2 miles of East Mountain Road,” Latorre said.
“The installation of 4G LTE equipment at 1029 North Road would bring additional 4G LTE service and capacity to the above mentioned areas. The proposed site (at the Hampton Ponds Plaza), being centrally located to our existing cell sites in the area, makes it the optimum location for 4G LTE data service,” Latorre said.
The antennas will be located on the roof of an existing buildings within the plaza and the equipment to operate the antennas will be erected inside that building.
The proposed transmitter will connect with the current transmitters in Westfield, Southampton, Holyoke and West Springfield to “provide optimum enhancement of 4G LTE service to Verizon Wireless customers in Westfield.”
The Antenna installation will be at a 39 foot elevation and will be out of direct view and will be among other existing elements on the roof. Verizon is seeking a waiver to extend its equipment four (4) feet above the height allowed in that zoning district.
Verizon review a number of possible locations for installation of the equipment but determined that “the subject site was the most appropriate since it is outside of a residential neighborhood and the rooftop is already disturbed with existing equipment.”
Verizon is seeking the special permit in accordance with Section 5-50 (II) and 3-170.7 of the city’s zoning codes.
