HOULTON – Communication is advancing, and the town’s planning board acknowledged at a recent meeting that the day will come when the community has to embrace the equipment that makes that communication happen.

Integrating the necessary hardware into the scene, however, without changing the aesthetics of the community is an entirely different matter.

Code Enforcement Officer Wade Hanson said at a recent meeting that the board would have to prepare for that day, during its review of a variance request by Pioneer Wireless. The Internet company was looking to install a 90-foot communications tower near its North Street business.

The board eventually supported Hanson’s decision to deny the request because of a town ordinance that prohibits towers in that particular zoning district. Company representatives are expected to appeal the matter to the zoning board at an upcoming meeting.

A Maine-based company, Pioneer Wireless provides Internet access from Houlton to Madawaska. In an application submitted to the planning board, the company stated a desire to erect the self-supporting tower to support high-speed data communications equipment.

“There is no allowance for towers in that district,” Hanson explained at the meeting. “Towers are allowed in a residential farming district, but I had to deny the request based on the existing ordinance.”

Planning board member Sue Tortello agreed with the decision, saying that she felt the ordinance was “pretty clear.” The board member also noted that the tower would be visible above the area where a new pedestrian footbridge and park are soon to be completed.

Hanson said at the meeting that the board would have to plan for allowing such equipment soon.

“We have to start considering communication towers,” Hanson acknowledged. “We have to think about where we want them and where we don’t want them as we are reviewing our ordinances.”

Chairman Jeff Alling agreed, but also noted that the board needed to consider the future of the town’s landscape.

“I know we need to look at it,” he said at the meeting, “but there are aesthetic issues that we need to think about as well.”