By Avice Meehan

Limited tree clearing has occurred at the access point for a 186-foot cell tower planned for Estey Road in South Norfolk. The tower, which would serve Verizon Wireless and other providers, was approved by the Connecticut Siting Council in an October 2025 decision.

The site work is related to a required ge-otechnical survey that will be reviewed by the Siting Council as part of the development and management (D&M) plan for the tower, according to Jonathan Schaefer, an attorney with Robinson & Cole, who represents devel-opers. The D&M plan was submitted on March 23. The council has two months for review.

According to the application filed by the tower developer, Tarpon Towers III, the project will take six to 10 weeks to complete once construction starts and cost an estimated $640,000. The lattice tower would be delivered in pieces and be enclosed by a 73-square-foot compound. It would be accessed via 14-foot-wide gravel roadway running immediately parallel to a residential property at 177 Estey Rd.

Schaefer said it is unclear when construction might begin. Based on a determination made by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the area provides habitat for the eastern red bat, a species of special concern, and is within the range of the endangered northern long-eared bat. As a result, contractors working on the project must take special measures and avoid removing trees from the site between April 15 and Sept. 30.

The cell tower would be located on land leased from Paul Chaplinsky Sr. with a nominal address of 78 Goshen East St. It would address major gaps in cell service along Route 272, Goshen East Street and into Winchester. Neighboring property owners opposed the project. In written testimony sent to the Siting Council, a former owner of 177 Estey Rd. noted that the access road would have “significant negative impact” on the property given its location “immediately adjacent” to the northerly property line. As noted in the final decision, the tower would also be visible year round from that property. The proposed D&M plan outlines measures that would be taken to protect the bat species and to ensure that invasive plants are not introduced into the woodland area, along with a two-year plan for monitoring the site. It also details placement of temporary construction fencing, erosion and drainage control measures and the trees identified for removal.