After two continuances, Industrial Tower and Wireless met again with the Mattapoisett Planning Board to discuss a 145-foot cell phone tower proposed for an area near Route 6 and Jane Lane.

Although Mattapoisett residents approved a zone near I-195 for cell phone towers, Industrial Tower is asking for permission to build the tower near Route 6 to fill a coverage gap for the area, said company representative Kevin Delaney.

Concerns were raised at previous meetings about the limited range of the tower, health issues and visibility.

At the Monday, June 18 meeting, abutters and board members had an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns about the tower.

Jack Hillier of Jane Lane said his home is the closest occupied dwelling to the site, and he was concerned with how it might affect the residential-rural community.

“It’s a massive change of scale for our town,” said Hillier. “It’s an industrial intrusion into our area.”

David Pierre of Aucoot Road said he and his family have enjoyed the community since relocating to the town a few years ago.

However, he added, “One big negative for us has been cell phone service. It’s been quite a frustration.”

Although he didn’t address the proposed tower directly, Pierre said the lack of service was a public safety and quality of life issue.

“I hope the town would work aggressively to solve this problem,” he said.

Planning Board members asked Delaney why his company placed the tower outside of the approved I-195 zone.

“That’s the first thing we looked at,” said Delaney. “Geographically, it’s too far away to get the coverage for Route 6. Distance and terrain has a lot to do with it.”

Terrain has also been blamed for the fact that several areas in the vicinity of the tower would remain dead zones.

“Why are we going to allow a tower that is not really efficient to be put outside the cell tower zone?” said board member John Mathieu.

“The voters have already spoken. This is pushing it. I’m not quite convinced that this location is proper.”

The board also questioned a balloon test conducted by Industrial Tower on Friday, May 11 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. By flying a red balloon at 145-feet, the purpose of the test was to show the proposed tower’s visual impact.

“I haven’t talked to anybody who saw the balloon,” said Mathieu.

“As far as I’m concerned, this balloon test was wholly insufficient. I’m not satisfied with anything about this,” said Mathieu, who noted that the test was conducted during work hours.

The Planning Board voted that a second balloon test be conducted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on a Friday and Saturday, which would allow more people to able to see it. The dates of the test are to be announced.