Tower Drama Unfolds Like a Soap Opera in Hudson River Valley, NY Town

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Earlier this month, the Philipstown Town Board meeting unfolded like a dramatic TV-show starring a 110-foot tower being proposed by Homeland Towers to be constructed on land that overlooks a cemetery in the neighboring town of Nelsonville.

The Highlands Current reported that even though the tower does not fall under Philipstown’s jurisdiction, Nelsonville resident Frances O’Neill asked board members to get involved and “act quickly to support opposition to the desecration of our historic and beautiful cemetery.” O’Neill then proposed that the tower be built in Philipstown instead.

The plot thickens when Supervisor Richard Shea noted that he met with Homeland Towers this past summer about the placement of a tower at the town’s former landfill, yet the project being planned for Nelsonville “was never mentioned.” He also defended Philipstown officials against comments by O’Neill that cited Homeland Towers’ claims it pursued the use of the garage property for a cell tower but was ignored by town officials. “That is patently untrue,” Shea responded.

Even amidst one benefit of the tower, generating $60,000 in annual revenue, Shea commented that if the tower placement is unsuitable, “the town is willing to go to court” to stop construction. Additionally, Shea noted that, “One of the failings of these tower companies, when they approach us, is to give documentation that proves there’s a need. These are huge moneymakers. This is just a for-profit enterprise they bring into the community; they mar the landscape and move on.”

And whatever happened to the proposed landfill site? Homeland Towers said it would not work “from a coverage standpoint.” So, other board members have brought up the idea of signal repeaters or placing antennas in church spires instead of building a new tower. The local pastor of the Church on the Hill “would be more than happy” to put an antenna in its steeple and he’s awaiting a response from Homeland Towers regarding his inquiries.

Then comes a twist in the story. Homeland Towers also proposed an alternate tower in Philipstown, which is under major scrutiny by the Zoning Board of Appeals and its Conservation Board, due to impact on wetlands. Safety concerns regarding the monopole catching fire and several requests by the fire company – including building a wider driveway, providing a surface strong enough to support equipment that weighs at least 75,000 pounds, a shed at the site to store equipment, and radio equipment for first responders provided on the tower at no cost – are complicating matters. According to Homeland Towers’ attorney Robert Gaudioso, “We have no problem working with emergency services, but, quite frankly, this letter is an insult.”

September 26, 2017              

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

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