Eric Walkinshaw, a Mesilla planning and zoning commissioner, told CBS4 they were not made aware of Verizon's proposal with the town to construct a cellphone tower in Town Hall Park within the historic district.
He said any changes made in the historic district would normally go through the planning and zoning commission, but this one did not.
"What we’re looking to do is help or preserve the historic district and I have to say a cell tower in the historic district that’s pretty major," said Walkinshaw. "The biggest frustration is I mean it’s a big enough project and really of concern in town and I would have to say I would appreciate it if the commissioners were more informed about it."
Walkinshaw said the commission acts as an advisor to the board of trustees.
Their duty consists of reviewing proposals and checking whether or not they fit the town's codes and ordinances.
They would then suggest a yes or no vote to the board of trustees.
The board of trustees has the power to approve or deny a proposal, but Walkinshaw said many residents were not informed of the proposal.
"Nothings been presented to us so it’s kind of, it’s kind of up in the air, I don’t know if it’s going to happen or not," said Walkinshaw.
He told CBS4 that building a cellphone tower in the historic district is prohibited.
"If you go through the pages it says at one point it says in 18.54.060 it strictly prohibits or expressly prohibits these towers in HR HC, HR is the historic residential HC is historic commercial and they also prohibit it in commercial," said Walkinshaw.
While this is the case, he said there was an exception he believed the town planned on following.
"There is a section another section in the code that’s about applicability and exemptions and one of the exemptions under C says public property owned or otherwise controlled by the town of Mesilla and it says may be exempt," said Walkinshaw.
The board of trustees' next meeting is on Monday at 6 p.m. where there will be a public input section.
Click here to keep up with the future board of trustees meetings.
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