Verizon is proposing to build a 175-foot monopole cellphone tower on the SugarLoaf Campus of Chestnut Hill College, located at 9220 Germantown Ave. 

The tower would sit behind the student dormitories in the wooded area of the campus, with the college leasing the site to Verizon. According to the college’s interim president, Brian McCloskey, most of the tower would be hidden behind trees with only a portion visible from certain angles. 

McCloskey told the Local, “Verizon did a balloon test, which means they floated a balloon at the approximate height of the tower in December. … My recollection is it's really only visible from one angle, and that's coming in at the SugarLoaf entrance on Vale Drive.” 

He said discussions began on the project two years ago, with the idea of improving cell connection on campus and the surrounding park as a driving factor. 

“It was an easy decision for us, because cellphone reception for faculty, staff, and certainly students is challenging throughout the Chestnut Hill community, particularly with the hills and valleys,” McCloskey said. “It would benefit not just the college, but many of the surrounding organizations and certainly the local residents.” Verizon would pay the school $30,000 annually to lease the land.

McCloskey  added, “We've met with the community groups, and Verizon has been in contact. We invited them up to the SugarLoaf Campus to see where the tower is going to be, because some of the groups had some concerns.”

The project, which needs government approval, triggered the federal Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, requiring federal agencies, in this case the Federal Communications Commission, to consider the impact projects have on historic properties/districts. The college’s property falls under the Chestnut Hill National Register Historic District, with the Chestnut Hill Conservancy serving as a consulting party and participating in the advisory process. 

While the Conservancy has not taken a formal position on the tower, they sent a statement to the Local, writing, “The Chestnut Hill Conservancy, as an official consulting party under the Section 106 process, is leading a group of constituent organizations in evaluating potential adverse impacts of the proposed cell tower on the Chestnut Hill National Register Historic District.”

The statement continued, “We have alerted the community about the project and created a page on our website with information about both the federal Section 106 advisory process and the local Philadelphia zoning approval process. Community engagement will be a regular part of the process, and the Conservancy anticipates taking a formal position on the cell tower in the coming weeks.”  

The project requires zoning approval, needing a variance due to the height of the tower. That process would require community meetings held by a coordinating Registered Community Organization (RCO), such as the Chestnut Hill Community Association, allowing public input before moving to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) for final approval. 

The ZBA hearing process would also allow for further public comment.

A Verizon spokesperson told the Local, “This proposed cell site in Chestnut Hill will improve Verizon’s coverage and capacity in the area, particularly important now and into the future, as many residents will continue to depend on reliable broadband service to work and learn from home.”

The statement continued, “As for the timeline, we are working with the community and local officials through the approval process, and once approved, we anticipate the site will be online by some time next year.” 

McCloskey said improving cell connection in the Wissahickon Park was another contributing factor in the project. 

Sarah Marley, Friends of the Wissahickon’s (FOW) interim executive director, said, “FOW looks forward to learning more about the potential impacts of proposed cell tower installation with our partners at Chestnut Hill Conservancy and our other institutional partners in Chestnut Hill as the Section 106 and zoning processes progress.”

According to the Conservancy, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office determined that the proposed monopole would have an adverse effect on the historic district because “the monopole’s size, scale, and design will diminish the integrity of the district’s design, setting, materials, feeling, and association.”

The Conservancy announced it will create a dedicated webpage with updates, documentation, and opportunities for public engagement as more information becomes available.

The Local will continue to report on this proposal as details about public meetings are announced.