Small Cell Equipment Public Hearings

Contact info: Select Board's Office at selectmenstaff@burlington.org

We respectfully request that all questions be funneled through this office vs. residents separately sending emails to the town's contracted counsel and engineers so that all questions may be posed to them in one location.




Public hearing for small cell equipment application closed on Wednesday, April 14, 2021   

Decision of the Select Board for Application of a New Cingular Wireless, PCS, LLC, d/b/a AT&T for a Small Cell Wireless Installation in the Public Right of Way Near 44 Burlington Mall Road



APPLICATION TO APPLY FOR SMALL CELL/5G EQUIPMENT IN PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
(Contact the Planning Department for non public right-of-way)

Small Cell Cover Letter and Policies

Cover Letter

Application for Small Cell wireless installations

Design Rules and Regulations

Burlington General and Zoning Bylaws Pertaining to Small Wireless Facilities





History of Original Small Cell Equipment Committee:  The Town of Burlington created a Small Cell Equipment committee to study requests for small cell equipment/facilities to be placed in both public and private right-of-ways.  They met along with Town Counsel and the Select Board with the above Cover Letter, Application for Small Cell wireless installations, Design Rules and Regulations and a Burlington Bylaw describing Planning Board requirements being created.

Composition for the that committee included:

  • Select Board
  • Inspector of Buildings
  • Planning Director
  • Police Safety
  • Board of Health
  • Fire Department
  • Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Purchasing Analyst
  • Bylaw Review
  • Town Engineer
  • Town Clerk
  • Resident

The committee reviewed design criteria and submission application. Because of the strict timeline guidelines, the committee and counsel recommended a professional engineer and cable attorney review all applications that are received.

It is acknowledged that there is concern about the possible health effects of wireless telecommunication facilities, however the Federal Communications Act of 1996, which is still in effect, only allows that local governments require applicable federal standards.