Crown Castle (NYSE: CCI) has been working with town officials in Calverton, NY to finalize a plan that would erect a new cell tower and remove one or two old ones. According to Riverhead Local, Crown Castle took the matter to federal court in 2021, claiming conditions requested by the Zoning Board of Approvals were “unreasonable, illegal, arbitrary and capricious” because the town was “well aware that the applicant would be unable to obtain the restrictive covenants” it required.
The ZBA had asked Crown Castle to both dismantle the existing cell towers and promise not to build there in future. Crown Castle argued that it did not own either property and could not weigh in on the property usage. In addition, both of the old towers were constructed before the town required special use permits. As part of the recent settlement, Crown Castle agreed to purchase one of the properties which will allow it to make decisions about the site.
“They intend to consolidate the towers and eventually knock one of them down,” Town Attorney Erik Howard told the Riverhead Local. “This was probably the best way to go about achieving the reduction in visual impact that we’re looking for,” he added.
The property settlement for the Lizem site is expected to be completed in January, which will allow Crown Castle to move ahead with its plans to build a 120-foot monopole cell tower at the Fresh Pond Avenue location. Plans for the second existing site are still up in the air at this time.
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