Zoning board approves special permit for cell tower at 677 Timberlake with insurance and decommissioning conditions

The Gardner City Zoning Board of Appeals voted to approve a special permit for a proposed multi‑carrier telecommunications tower at 677 Timberlake Boulevard (Parcel ID R12‑16‑1).

Acting Chairman Mel Cornett opened the case out of sequence and said the board would consider the special permit before any variance because a variance would be invalid if the permit were denied. Mahood, the applicant’s representative, told the board the team had already submitted fall‑zone engineering and manufacturer testimony and had explored alternate sites but wetlands and existing utilities prevented locating the tower farther back on the parcel. "We brought the tower manufacturer and their engineering team to explain whether or if the tower were to fall, how it would fall," Mahood said, describing modeling the applicant submitted.

A board member asked about decommissioning guarantees and insurance. Mahood said the applicant has used removal bonds in prior cases and that the typical removal bond was about $35,000. The board member proposed increasing the bond and adding a large liability requirement: "I'm recommending $50,000 bond and a $5,000,000 liability policy," the member said. Mahood agreed the applicant could provide the higher bond and carry the liability coverage and said she would work with the carrier to add the city as an insured and a hold‑harmless agreement.

After discussing conditions, a motion was made and the board verbally recorded its approval under the stated conditions. Cornett thanked the applicants and closed the hearing on that matter. Per the board’s opening remarks, four of five members must be present for a legal hearing and decisions on variance or special permit matters require unanimous votes under board rules.

The next procedural step is the drafting of the written decision and conditions, which Cornett said would reflect the agreed bond, liability coverage and hold‑harmless obligation; Mahood indicated the applicant would return with documentation satisfying those conditions if required.