Petition to the New Durham Planning Board: Require Independent Engineering Review for Proposed Cell Tower (Map 209, Lot 034)

To: The New Durham, NH Planning Board
From: The Undersigned Residents and Property Owners of New Durham, NH

Petition Statement:
We, the residents of New Durham, demand that the Planning Board require the applicant, GMR Holdings of NH LLC (d/b/a Green Mountain Communications), to fund an independent, 3rd party engineer selected by the Town. This independent expert would review, verify, and report on the technical claims made by the applicant regarding the proposed 110-foot wireless telecommunications facility at 320 Kings Highway.

Why This Matters to Our Community:
The Planning Board has a duty to ensure that any major site plan and Special Use Permit approval is backed by unbiased, objective scientific data. We ask the Board to exercise its legal authority under New Hampshire RSA 676:4 to mandate a peer review covering two critical points:

1. Co-location Viability: Independent verification that the proposed 110-foot tower height and engineering parameters will effectively accommodate additional carriers, as required by the town’s Telecommunications Facility Ordinance, at heights of 85 and 95 feet, and that the applicant's existing propagation data for its primary tenant at 105 feet are fully accurate.

2. Alternate Site Feasibility: An objective evaluation that a proposed alternate location for a cell tower off Kings Highway on commercial land owned by Green Acre Woodlands would satisfy the coverage gap along Kings Highway without compromising New Durham's scenic landscape, nearby property values, and the Shaws Pond viewshed.

Relying solely on data provided by the applicant's paid engineer(s) creates an inherent conflict of interest. New Durham residents deserve independent proof before the landscape is permanently marred and homes are devalued.

Signatures Required:
By signing below, you certify that you are a resident or property owner of New Durham, NH, and support this demand.