Commission approves amended permit for 1044 Route 28 wireless facility after design reduction

Jeff Mason of Lucas Environmental told the Conservation Commission the applicant is seeking an amendment to a 2023 order of conditions for a wireless communications facility at 1044 Route 28. "My name is Jeff Mason. I'm a wetland scientist and restoration ecologist with Lucas Environmental," Mason said, and described a redesign from a clock tower to a steel monopole and a roughly 22-foot westward shift of the compound.

Mason said the new steel monopole sits about 96 feet above mean sea level and that the revised layout reduces the project's footprint in land subject to coastal storm flowage by about 330 square feet compared with the previously approved 2022 design. He emphasized that the previously designed infiltration basin and construction BMPs reviewed with the Cape Cod Commission remain unchanged and that the stormwater system is sized to treat a 25-year/24-hour event while avoiding additional impact in a 100-year event.

Commissioners asked specific construction and utility questions, including whether utility easements were inventoried, how many carriers the tower supports and whether fencing allowed floodwater passage. Mason said utility easements were accounted for and that the design allows space for multiple carriers and municipal emergency-service antennas. On fencing, he confirmed slatted cedar panels with small gaps and proposed a condition requiring a minimum clearance between slats to permit flood flows.

After discussion of conditions and technical details, a commissioner moved to amend the order of conditions with special conditions addressing utilities, fencing clearance and a reaffirmation of the Cape Cod Commission stormwater commitments. The motion carried and the commission authorized staff to issue the amended order with the conditions discussed. The applicant thanked the commission and indicated construction will follow the approved BMPs and monitoring requirements.