To prevent dropped calls and enhance public safety communications, Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, proposes a 79-foot tall, 4G monopine for Colonie, NY. The Adirondack Council has a different name for the project, referring to the tower as a “Frankenpine,” according to Spotlight News.
In July, the Zoning Board of Appeals granted Verizon a special use permit to construct the tower. Now, the proposal is under review with the Planning Board for a site behind the Elks Club, zoned Single Family Residential.
According to Dave Brennan, an attorney representing the applicant, the proposed site would “best hide the tower,” which was determined after meeting with the town’s cellular consultant. Spotlight News reported that a balloon test was conducted, flown at 79-feet high, to assess various vantage points.
In 2018, the Albany County Legislature and the Sheriff released a study that found cell service was lacking in the area. “Cellular service in much of Colonie is terrible, with dropped calls and poor reception a threat to public safety,” said Legislator Paul Burgdorf. “With many residents dropping landlines and relying exclusively on cell phones, we need reliable cell phone service to contact fire, police, and emergency medical services.”
Since police in Colonie use Verizon hotspots to transfer data while in the field, according to Spotlight News, the new tower will fix gaps in service. “Public safety is paramount, and all our police cars, all of our ambulances, have tablets in them, and they need maximum capacity,” said Planning Board member Paul Rosano.
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