Better Internet browsing as you drive along I‑91 paralleling State Street is just going to have to wait a bit until some helpful telecommunications antennae get a more historically appropriate makeover.
That’s because New Haven’s City Plan Commission has nixed a suggested box-like enclosure to cover the lattice structure of current and future equipment atop the historic Erector Square building at 315 Peck St. in Fair Haven.
Last month Clear Wireless, LLC, came before the commission with a proposal to add antennae and dishes that would aid in wireless browsing along a mile and half stretch near the site, which experiences coverage gaps.
The commissioners, especially East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker, had been unhappy with what Elicker termed an absence of effort to conceal both the existing and proposed equipment, especially on an important and beloved historical industrial building.
The proposal was tabled so Clear Wireless could return this week with a better approach.
Allan Appel Photo
The solution that Clear Wireless attorney Jennifer Herz (pictured) came back with at Wednesday night’s City Plan meeting didn’t make the commissioners as sanguine about the proposal as she was.
“I’m happy to report we will be able to screen the entire structure with a stealth enclosure,” she said.
It would be 73 feet high, completely covering the 72-foot lattice that currently holds equipment from Verizon, with which Clear Wireless is in partnership on the effort.
Although the structure and the proposed enclosure are completely legal, Elicker had asked for a good faith effort to enhance the appearance through enclosure or other means, even though the law doesn’t require it.
He asked what the material was made of.
“It’ll be fiberglass so the equipment can signal through,” said Herz.
She added that there are choices too in the décor and color and design of the fiber glass. “It can look like a traditional chimney,” she added.
Elicker wasn’t mollified. Did you consider altering the existing structure? he asked.
“You asked us to stealth, and we did,” replied the lawyer.
Commission Chairman Ed Mattison tried to find a middle ground. “They’ve done as much as we required,” he said.
City Plan staffer Tom Talbot concurred, but also seemed to be conveying a warning to Elicker; “You asked for screening last time. Now you sound like you want it to disappear.”
Elicker countered that he was hoping for a better solution, perhaps a smaller structure, and in any event not what he termed a box.
“I think the proposal they came up with is a joke. A large box is not effective screening. I’m against it and encourage others to vote against it,” he said.
Attorney Herz could not make any new commitments on the spot but she did not push back either. “We’ll try to accommodate,” she said.
To that end, Mattison motioned to reopen the hearing with the proviso Herz come back with a specific drawing next month.