Southampton Planning Board unanimously backs peer review for proposed Cook Road cell tower

Planning Board · Meeting of March 18, 2026

Southampton Planning Board unanimously endorsed an independent peer review of a proposed 160-foot cell tower at 1 Cook Road before a formal application has even been filed. Attorney Fran Parisi of Atlantic Tower LLC, an affiliate of Vertex Tower, appeared before the board in a pre-application conference, outlining plans for a monopole that would initially serve Verizon Wireless, sited roughly 1,000 feet from Cook Road on what he described as a horse farm, with utility access extended underground and tree removal limited to three or four trees. Parisi said he expects to file a special permit application before the end of March, with a first hearing possible in April or May; the tower's 160-foot height would require a waiver from the town's zoning bylaw and a balloon visibility demonstration is planned for abutters.

Planning consultant Richard Harris told the board that peer review firms are scarce, he recalled receiving only two proposals when South Hadley sought one around 2015-16, and that starting the search now would put the board "about two to three weeks ahead" of the normal timeline. The four-member board voted 4-0 on a non-binding motion to require the review, with Harris authorized to begin soliciting qualified firms.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of March 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.