The Athens (NY) Town Board has unanimously passed its first law regulating the placement of cell phone towers, according to the Daily Gazette. The new law aims to preserve the town’s scenic views and protect residential areas from unsightly infrastructure while ensuring sufficient cellular coverage.
“This was about finding a balance—allowing necessary technology without disrupting the character of our town,” said Athens Town Supervisor Michael Pirrone on Tuesday. “We wanted to guide the placement of towers so they don’t interfere with scenic views or residential spaces.”
The law, which will only apply to future tower installations, excludes existing towers, emergency communications infrastructure, and residential satellite dishes. Under the ordinance, any proposed tower must provide at least 50 percent coverage to the town and avoid visual disruption.
Cell towers are now prohibited in areas of statewide scenic significance, public parks, state-designated scenic roads, historic sites, or landmarks. Placement that impedes a scenic view will only be allowed if no other coverage-viable location is available. Additionally, the planning board may request that new towers be camouflaged, the Daily Gazette reported.
The legislation was drafted with input from a citizen volunteer committee. “These volunteers helped us create clearer guidance on where cell towers should and shouldn’t be placed,” he said.
A public hearing on March 3 drew one attendee seeking more information. The move follows a lawsuit filed by residents, including Hailee Dickson, on May 23, 2024, opposing the construction of a Verizon cell tower at Farm to Market Road and Briarwood Drive. However, a New York State Supreme Court judge dismissed the suit on March 10, ruling in favor of the town’s zoning board of appeals.
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