Disputed Cell Tower in Cortlandt Approved by Planners
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A 140-foot Verizon Wireless cell tower that generated community interest was narrowly approved by the Cortlandt Planning Board last week.
At the Jan. 10 meeting at Linda Puglisi Town Hall, the Planning Board voted 4-2 to support the facility at 52 Montrose Station Rd. Voting in favor of the tower were Thomas Bianchi, Steven Kessler, Jeffrey Rothfeder and Suzanne Decker. In opposition were Nora Hildinger and Peter McKinley.
One of the conditions imposed by the board is Homeland Towers will be required to submit scoping documents before a building permit is issued.
During several public hearings, one contingency of residents who live on Montrose Station Rd. urged the board to reject the application and consider other locations.
Terry Kardos and her husband were among the vocal opponents. She maintained the board and the town’s consultant Michael Musso of HDR failed to follow the Town Code and take resident’s concerns seriously.
“This has not been handled well and has been unfair,” Terry Kardos said. “We feel we have done everything we should do as respectful citizens. There doesn’t have to be one site to provide all coverage.”
Musso maintained Homeland Towers had adequately documented a gap in service in the area, remarking the site chosen for the tower “makes sense.”
Many residents of the Valeria and Chapel Hill housing complexes supported the tower, asserting the lack of cell service in the area was a longstanding issue.
“There is a public safety and health issue without cell service,” said Richard Goldfarb, a resident of Valeria. “That’s first and foremost. Everyone should be entitled where they live to feel safe. Outside of my home I have no cell service. This is a clear and present danger.”
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