RUMFORD – Action taken Wednesday by the Planning Board has opened to the door to Verizon cell phone service in the Rumford area.

The board unanimously approved construction of a 190-foot cell phone tower on a portion of a 120-acre parcel at 741 South Rumford Road owned by Noel Bellegarde.

Scott Anderson, a Portland lawyer representing Verizon Wireless, said the tower is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will cover most of Rumford and northeast Bethel.

The tower will be enclosed within a 75- by 75-foot crushed-stone area. A concrete 12- by 30-foot sandstone-colored equipment shelter will be built adjacent to the tower to house some things as a generator, computer server, and alarm system. An 8-foot high chain link fence will encircle the complex.

“We are building out networks so Verizon service can be offered,” Anderson said.

Although several towers already exist in the area that service other cell phone companies, this is the first Verizon Wireless tower.

The plan was approved providing the access road and drainage plan is approved by the fire department, a map accurately showing the site of the future tower is presented, and the company works with the town’s code enforcement officer.

Anderson said the tower and shelter will be built about 800 feet from the nearest property line. Part of the access road will include Bellegarde’s driveway. The rest of the access road will follow a logging path and will include a number of road improvements.