SOUTHAMPTON — A 165-foot-tall cell tower proposed at the Southampton-Easthampton line is drawing pushback from residents worried about health impacts, visual pollution and a decrease in property values.

The proposed wireless communication facility would be built at 1 Cook Road in Southampton, a residential property that is also a horse farm. The property owners are not the applicant, rather, Atlantic Tower LLC of Medfield — an affiliate of Vertex Towers — is applying for a special permit on behalf of Verizon Wireless.

Francis Parisi, an attorney of Parisi Law Associates representing the applicant, spoke before the Planning Board at its Wednesday meeting. Part of the application also asks the board to waive one of town’s zoning bylaws that requires cell towers to be less than 100 feet tall.

“We’ve been very successful in what I would call rural Massachusetts, we have built many facilities in areas equally rural to Southampton,” Parisi said, naming similar projects in Shutesbury, Colrain, Otis and many in the area and across New England.

“Why do we need another cell tower? The statistics are staggering,” Parisi said.

The project would increase wireless communication connectivity for those in the area of the cell tower, Parisi said, adding that cellphones are being used more while people stay in place at home, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Parisi, a cellphone is the primary or only source of communication for more than 50% of Massachusetts residents, and 80% of 911 calls are made by cellphones.

Additionally, he said cellphones are also heavily used for internet access, which requires newer and stronger wireless technology.

“Companies like Verizon require more and more places to provide ubiquitous coverage,” Parisi said. “The other thing that’s happening is as the technology improves and as we use higher frequency bands to deploy faster internet service, the coverage that we enjoyed five and seven years ago is diminishing.”

Several residents from both Southampton and Easthampton voiced opposition to the proposal. Biz Holley, who lives in Easthampton just over the Southampton border where the cell tower would be built, expressed concern at the meeting about potential health risks.

She claims there are 15 Southampton homes and more than 100 Easthampton homes within a 1,500-foot radius of the proposed tower site, which she argues is a dangerous distance from such a structure. Holley said numerous peer-reviewed studies have documented potential health risks associated with cell towers, including neurological effects, fertility issues and cancer.

“It really is not just a Southampton matter, it’s affecting your Easthampton neighbors as well so it’s a very impactful decision you’re making for two different communities,” she said.

The proposed project has also caught the eye of Easthampton city officials, including City Councilors Koni Denham, Tamara Smith and Kiam Jamrog-McQuaid. Easthampton resident Anna Holley read a joint message from the councilors, who oppose the project.

“Numerous Easthampton residents live in close proximity to the proposed site and would experience the visual, economic and quality of life consequences associated with the construction of the large telecommunications tower,” the councilors wrote. “These residents have invested significant financial resources, time and effort into their homes and neighborhood, with the expectation that the character of their community would be preserved and protected.”

Parisi said there are thousands of these kinds of facilities and the federal government has heavily regulated this technology to encourage the construction of similar towers. Additionally, he said people are exposed to radio frequency every day.

“We live with radio frequency emissions every where, every day,” Parisi said. “We have Wi-Fi in this room, which is just another form of radio frequency transmission … I’m not going to say 100%, but everyone’s got a cellphone in their pocket right now.”

Parisi responded to a round of questioning from every Planning Board member and several residents. As for the location, Parisi said it is difficult to find a proper spot to build cell towers. In rural areas and particularly Southampton, he said there is no structure tall enough to provide the right services.

He said there is not any tower in service within a two-mile radius of the location that he is aware of, but was asked to check by member Robert Riggs, who said he thinks there is one inside the radius. Parisi was also asked by Planning Board Chair Paul Diemand to see if the tower could move to the lower end of the property where less homes would be close to it.

Resident Terry Stephen’s reason for not wanting the tower was simple. “I’ve been there for 49 years — 1,500 feet is too close to my home. That’s all.”