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.