KENNEBUNK – At their July 13 meeting, Kennebunk’s planning board deemed the Factory Pasture Lane telecommunications tower application complete, enabling the project to move one step closer to construction.
The planning board reviewed the Wireless EDGE Towers III LLC application for completeness under Article 7, Section 2.B of Kennebunk’s zoning ordinance and found that all conditions had been met.
Voters approved the lease agreement for the Factory Pasture Lane property at a special town meeting in August 2025. Since then, Wireless EDGE and its partners have worked on the design and execution of the project. John Arthur, president and CEO of Wireless EDGE; Michael Dolan, legal advisor from Brown Rudnick LLP on behalf of Wireless EDGE; and Jim Fitzgerald of Chappell Engineering Associates appeared before the board to update members and field questions.
The representatives for Wireless EDGE requested a reduction in the required project setback to 88 feet. According to Article 10, Section 22.D(4) of Kennebunk’s Zoning Ordinance, “The planning board is permitted to reduce the 125% setback upon receiving sufficient evidence that the support structure is reliably designed to collapse upon itself in an area shorter than its height.” With board member questions satisfied, this request was approved.
The proposed monopole tower is 176 feet housed within a 5,625 square foot enclosure. The entire use area is on Town of Kennebunk land between Water and Winter streets. As landlord, Kennebunk will have its public safety antennas on top. Up to five wireless communications carriers could house their equipment below. To date, only Verizon and AT&T have been named as likely tenants. The wooded site would be cleared to enable tower construction, propane fuel storage and generators for each carrier. The area will be fenced in a manner to be determined.
Tower visibility remains a concern. Dolan stated the pole will be painted brown and because of its height, no lighting is required by the Federal Aviation Administration. According to an April 2025 balloon test where a bright red balloon was suspended above the proposed center of the monopole, the tower would have “year-round visibility from only 8 acres, and when leaves are off deciduous trees, roughly an additional 56 acres will have visibility for a total of roughly 64 acres. The vast majority of those acres are not residential properties.” The application package includes photographs taken from 20 Kennebunk locations. https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/DocumentCenter/View/20882/WET-Application-Package-with-Exhibits-52826
Planning board member Richard Smith asked how the proposed tower would improve cell service. A photo map was presented by the applicant that depicted proposed coverage by AT&T. The map showed a large white area indicating current, subpar coverage. According to Dolan, the tower is designed to fill such coverage gaps for personal and town services. Coverage maps are included in the application package.
The next step in the planning process is a peer review. This “technical peer reviewer” will be chosen by the town without an RFP (request for proposal), meaning no bids will be solicited. Director of Community Development and Town Engineer Chris Osterrieder assured the board that that person or persons will act independently. In accordance with the town’s purchasing policy, he said, “We will look for someone who has qualifications and local experience; most of the people who operate in this arena are competently qualified to do this. They would be available to answer questions (from the board).”
Public concerns remain about the project including how individuals will be affected by their carrier’s coverage, tower visibility, generator noise, fencing, vegetation clearing, landscaping, radio frequency exposure, adherence to town ordinances, and future monitoring. If the peer review is satisfactorily completed in early August, a public hearing will be set for late August or early September, enabling public input.
Supplemental Information:
Application Package: https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/DocumentCenter/View/20882/WET-Application-Package-with-Exhibits-52826
Planner Review Memo: https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/DocumentCenter/View/20876/WET—Completeness-Planner-Memo—62526
Plans:https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/DocumentCenter/View/20877/KENNEBUNKME_ZD_REV5_20260624
Lighting Statement: https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/DocumentCenter/View/20881/WEC-ME-02—Kennebunk—Lighting-Statement—070626-mb
Relevant Zoning Ordinances:
Article 7 – Special Exceptions https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/DocumentCenter/View/15765/ARTICLE-7-
Article 10 Section 22 – Telecommunications Facilities: https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/DocumentCenter/View/9827/ARTICLE-10-w-2020-7-14-updates?bidId=
