WILTON — A Walker Hill couple has filed an appeal to the Planning Board’s decision to allow installation of wireless Internet transmission antennas on an idle windmill.

The Appeals Board will hold a public hearing on Kenneth and Mira Coleman’s request Jan. 12 at the town office, Paul Montague, code enforcement officer, said.

During a Nov. 17 meeting, the Planning Board granted a use permit to Hussey Communications to install the antennas on a preexisting, nonconforming wind tower on the property of Robert and Nicole Witt at 360 Walker Hill Road.

Hussey Communications provides high-speed wireless Internet access to customers in several Franklin County towns, including some in Wilton, company owner Peter Hussey told the board.  He would like to respond to the need in the area for better Internet access and the proposed antennas would help, he said.

Twenty years ago, the windmill on the Witt property was functioning. Since the blades were removed, the tower has sat idle.  It was erected prior to town ordinances and is grandfathered from setback requirements.

Hussey wants to add two antennas to the tower and petitioned the Planning Board for a permit. 

The board granted the permit, although Kenneth Coleman pleaded that the tower’s use was being changed from its initial purpose. He also asked the board to consider the impact on the views from seven neighboring homes, which could be marred by the antennas.

Coleman based his appeal on his belief that the Planning Board made a mistake granting the permit because of the change of use on the nonconforming wind tower, Montague said Thursday. The company has a valid permit, he said, when asked if Hussey could continue with his plan to install the antennas.

The same tower was selected by Central Maine Power for a smart meter antenna until residents on the hill resisted.

This time the Internet antennas will serve Wilton people without changing the looks that much, one board member said.

Witt told the board he wanted to put the tower to some use and asked Hussey about adding to the town’s Internet capacity.

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