On November 12, 2004, Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (Verizon) applied to the Connecticut Siting Council (Council) for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (Certificate) for the construction, maintenance and operation of a wireless telecommunications facility to be located in the City of New Haven, Connecticut. Verizon is seeking to develop a facility at a site located at 100 Pond Lily Avenue. Verizon’s objective in locating a facility at this location is to provide extra capacity to augment its currently available service along the Wilbur Cross Parkway (Route 15), Whalley Avenue (Route 69), and the surrounding vicinity of New Haven and Woodbridge.

Verizon would replace an existing 40-foot tall flagpole with an 80-foot tall telecommunications monopole designed to look like a flagpole. The proposed flagpole tower would be erected in near proximity to the existing flagpole and next to a motel/conference center a short distance south of the Wilbur Cross Parkway. Verizon would install three cellular antennas at the 76-foot level of the proposed flagpole tower and three PCS antennas at the 66-foot level of the tower. Nextel Communications of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc. (Nextel), an intervenor, would install three antennas at the 56-foot level of the tower.

Verizon would develop a 1,100 square foot area at the base of the flagpole tower as an equipment compound. Verizon’s equipment would be contained within a 12-foot by 30-foot equipment shelter. Nextel’s equipment would be contained within a 12-foot by 20-foot equipment shelter. Verizon’s shelter would include a back up generator for emergency purposes. Nextel would use a battery back up power system, except in the case of prolonged outages when it would bring in an emergency generator. The compound would be enclosed by an eight-foot tall chain link fence with privacy slats.

Verizon would bring utilities underground to the site from an existing utility pole near the entrance of the hotel’s driveway on Pond Lily Avenue.

The proposed flagpole tower would be visible year round from approximately 44 acres in the surrounding vicinity, including from portions of the hiking trails along West Rock Ridge. It would also be visible seasonally from approximately 10 additional acres.

There are no known existing populations of state endangered, threatened, or species of special concern at the proposed site. A facility at this location would not have any effect on architectural or archaeological resources.

The radio frequency power density levels at the base of the proposed tower would be well below federal and state standards for the frequencies used by wireless companies. If federal or state standards change, the Council will require that the tower be brought into compliance with such standards. The Council will require that the power densities be remodeled in the event other carriers add antennas to the tower.

At the time of the submittal of its Certificate application, Verizon did not intend to fly a flag from its proposed flagpole tower. The Council, however, feels strongly that if the tower at this site is designed as a flagpole, an appropriately sized flag should be flown from it.

The Council finds that the effects associated with the construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed telecommunications facility, including effects on the natural environment; ecological integrity and balance; public health and safety; scenic, historic, and recreational values; forests and parks; air and water purity; and fish and wildlife are not disproportionate either alone or cumulatively with other effects when compared to need, are not in conflict with policies of the State concerning such effects, and are not sufficient reason to deny this application. Therefore, the Council will issue a Certificate for the construction, operation, and maintenance of an 80-foot monopole tower designed as a flagpole at the proposed site at 100 Pond Lily Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut.