A controversial plan to raise a 150-foot cellular telephone tower over lower Westport could come to a head next Wednesday, when the Zoning Board of Appeals is expected to discuss a draft resolution and may vote on the application filed earlier this year by Georgia Communications/AT&T.

During a three-hour discussion on Wednesday, August 4, board members went back and forth with a representative for the company, which hopes to site the tower on private land near the corner of Drift and Masquesatch roads.

"We need a plan forward" after months of discussions and continuances, board chairman Roger Menard said before asking other board members to talk about their feelings on the matter.

"The wording in that decision is going to be extremely important, whichever way it goes. We have to make sure we have a legal stance before going forward."

The plan has generated much pushback from area residents, some of whom spoke last week. While acknowledging that the tower would vastly improve cell phone reception and that they're not opposed to some sort of array in the area, some said the plan should not be considered in its current form, as they believe there are alternatives that need to be vetted first. A consultant hired by the town wrote as much in a report released in late July.

"In order for the board to make informed decisions, it must have the options, engineering and analyses presented," IDK Communications' Ivan Pagacik wrote. "The submissions to date and responses ... do not have the supporting engineering."

Board members agreed.

"I'm not convinced this is the only solution," member Gerald Coutinho said of the plan. "I'm not ready to judge one way or another without having a little more opportunity to find out some of the facts. We still don't have any more information than we've had at previous hearings on the technical stuff."

"I think I would like to see some more options," added member Constance Gee.

"This requires five variances from our by-laws and a special permit to operate outside the facilities overlay district. I also don't necessarily know that we actually need all of this and that maybe it's OK to spend a day at the beach without watching a video or sending a bunch of texts."

Several residents spoke in opposition to the plan, saying such a large tower would be an eyesore in the historic waterfront section of Westport. They argued that several land owners have offered to site cellular arrays on their property, and that those offers should be considered first. Among those possible other sites are Tripps Marina, the Gifford property up Route 88 and another property on Horseneck Road.

"This (current site) is across from the historic district, added Main Road resident Betty Slade. Referencing an earlier balloon test, during which a ballon was raised to 150 feet at the proposed tower location, she said the results were clear:

"The idea that it can't be seen from Main Road is crazy," she said. "We all saw it with our own eyes ... and so did everyone else. This is a very important part of Westport. When you come by that thing, it's going to be ugly."

Board members said that no matter which way they vote, they need to be cognizant of the town's legal standing and vote based on the facts. Other communities that have rejected similar cell phone tower proposals have faced lawsuits from carriers, and they do not want to see Westport drawn into a legal battle should they ultimately choose to reject the current plan.

"I feel backed into a corner but personally, I resist the bullying of corporations to get all they believe they are entitled to," said Ms. Gee, who said the amount of zoning relief sought by the applicant is daunting.

"I'm not sold on this claim that this is the only option."

Mr. Menard said he would work with the solicitor to draw up a draft proposal, and present it to the board for discussion and a possible vote next week. Responding to board member Raymond Elias, who spoke favorably of the proposal's possible impact on safety in the area but said he needed more information, Mr. Menard said there is still a chance for members to listen to new information should it be provided before the meeting.

"If there is new information between now and the next meeting, we'll hear it," he said.