Stop the Newton Road Neighborhood Cell Tower
Please help us stop Verizon from destroying our neighborhood forever!
In July 2020, our neighbors on Sound View Drive, Newton Road and Penny Lane were notified that Cellco/Verizon planned to construct a 144' cell phone tower surrounded by a 50' x 50' fenced "compound" in the backyard of an adjacent home in the neighborhood. Despite local protest, formal town leadership opposition, numerous proposed alternative sites, and a neighborhood petition that includes >300 signatures opposing the tower, Verizon has ignored these pleas and proceeded to formally file the construction application as of May 13, 2021. What was once theoretical is now VERY real. This tower is GOING TO HAPPEN at 118 Newton Road unless we SPEAK UP NOW!
Why should you care?
The tower will be highly visible and will be an eyesore that will forever alter the character of the neighborhood. What's worse is that our neighbors now live in constant fear: fear for their children who play next door to the proposed site; fear for their health and the environment; and fear about substantial lost property value of the homes they have invested in for years. It is grossly unjust that everything our neighbors have worked so hard for can be instantly undone at the whim of a private company and the single private citizen who agreed to take Verizon's money to lease the land. No single resident has the financial means to fight this fight alone. Yet, without private legal counsel, there is no hope of stopping this tower.
It turns out that cell phone tower sitings do NOT fall under local zoning and building ordinances. Believe it or not, all Cellco/Verizon has to do to move forward with building a tower is to find an agreeable property owner in the location where they want to build, and file an application to the CT State Siting Council. The town did not ask for this tower; rather, it is completely driven by a private corporation deciding where they want a tower. If this can happen in our part of Woodbridge, there is no reason to think it wouldn't happen in your neighborhood. We need your help as fellow Woodbridge citizens to help protect the beautiful character of our town.
Here is what it will look like in the Sound View Drive cul-de-sac:
What is not shown here is the basketball hoop where neighborhood kids play just to the right of the photo, the other homes which are right next to this yard, the families who enjoy taking walks and bike rides with their children on this quiet, safe cul-de-sac. Imagine this was now the view from your back deck, in the yard next to where your kids now play.
What can you do to help?
We are not opposed to the concept of a cell tower, but we are STRONGLY opposed to this specific location in the middle of a quiet residential neighborhood. Thus, we are seeking:
1) DONATIONS! We are raising funds to support our neighbors to hire legal counsel and independent consultants to help stop the construction of the tower at 118 Newton Road and to identify viable, responsible alternative locations within our region. Every donation will help!
2) YOUR SUPPORT! Please go to nocelltowerplease.com to sign our petition and for more information on our story.
3) YOUR LETTERS and EMAILS! We have been advised that those cases where cell phone towers were stopped were those with the most vocal public opposition to the towers. *Please* take a moment to write to our town and state leaders to ask for their support in preventing the CT Siting Council from approving the 118 Newton Road cell tower:
Beth Heller, Woodbridge First Selectman:
https://www.woodbridgect.org/231/First-Selectmans-Office
Mary Welander, CT State Representative:
http://www.housedems.ct.gov/Welander
James Maroney, CT State Senator:
http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/maroney
Jorge Cabrera, CT State Senator:
http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/cabrera-contact
More information on the specific application can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/CSC/1_Applications-and-Other-Pending-Matters/Applications/4_DocketNos500s/Docket-No-502
THANK YOU for your support!
GoFundMe Disclaimer: Erin Hofstatter is raising funds on behalf of her neighbors on Sound View and Forest Glen Drive who are directly impacted by the tower, and who have retained private counsel and need assistance to offset costs. The funds will be transferred to a dedicated checking account and used to directly pay for legal fees and consultant fees. Any unused funds at the conclusion of the hearings will be refunded proportionally to the donors.
