Philipstown, NY Supervisor Richard Shea and Councilors John Van Tassel and Judith Farrell on August 8 approved updated text in a settlement agreement with Homeland Towers and Verizon. The settlement ends their lawsuit against the town for rejecting their application to site a cell tower, reported the Highlands Current.
The settlement will allow the project to proceed on a parcel along Vineyard Road near the intersection of Routes 9 and 301.
The revision restored a provision on the appearance of the tower, which will be designed to resemble a fir tree. A draft from early July discussed branch height and length, but that clause was missing from the text approved on July 24.
“It was just a minor thing,” Shea said, but “if that wasn’t in there, we’re out of luck” should the tower developers want to change the look of the structure.
The original proposed tower was 140 to 180 feet. However the town disallowed it and Homeland and Verizon sued in 2018. A settlement was reached this month, including a compromise of a 120-foot tower. The companies will also provide $20,000 worth of landscaping, according to the account.
August 19, 2019
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