Fight Over Tower in Hamptons Has Fire Chief Saying “Please Use Our Site”

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

As East Hampton, NY works to complete the upgrade of its emergency communications infrastructure, debate over the final cell site has residents up in arms. If the East Hampton Town Board prevails, a 100-foot COW will occupy the selected plot of land until it is replaced by a 185-foot monopole. However, as the East Hampton Star reports, the proposed Springs location has met with resistance.

Among the protesters were members of the hamlet’s board of fire commissioners like Carl Irace. Irace and others have asked the Town Board to “Please use our site,” referring to a 150-foot tower built in 2015 on firehouse property. However, that tower was constructed without the approval of the planning commission. When the matter was brought to the State Supreme Court, it upheld the ZBA’s decision to revoke the building permit. While the tower currently houses fire district communications equipment, the Town Board has said that this earlier decision disallows that location as a tower site option.  

Instead, the site now under consideration is a 100-by-100-foot area wooded area within a 6.9-acre sector. Because the area would need to be cleared to make room for the tower, temporary or permanent, supporting equipment, and an access road, some residents have voiced their objections to the plan. Opponents point to perceived health risks, falling equipment, falling property values, and racially insensitive placement that would place the tower near a community with a high population of hispanic immigrants.

An environmental study that was conducted last month, according to the East Hampton Star, determined that the proposed tower site would not have a negative impact on the environment. Attorney Dianne K. LeVerrier dismissed the report as flawed. Councilman David Lys, a second generation American of Indonesian descent, responded, “To be called a racist right now offends me.” In an effort to keep the tower site situation from devolving into a discussion on racial stances, Councilman Jeff Bragman told attendees “sometimes people get a little emotional, sometimes do make accusations.”

With neither side mollified, the siting of the communications equipment remains unresolved.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.