(Photo by Michael Scro)
The Village of Garden City Board of Trustees unanimously approved a local law regarding telecommunications projects, such as cellular telephone antennas, within the village following a public hearing at a recent village board meeting.
The law is a result of a plan by Crown Castle, a provider of shared wireless infrastructure, to increase the size of antennas located in the backyards of three village residents within the Eastern section. According to Crown Castle, the new and larger antennas would improve cell phone service; however, residents in the village expressed disapproval of their proposal on the grounds of potential dangers of RF emissions and the antenna’s close proximity to bedrooms.
At the hearing, numerous residents praised the village’s actions on the law and suggested some additions to it.
As described in the legislative intent of the law, the village board has determined that having a specific regulatory framework for processing applications for wireless telecommunications facilities is appropriate and advisable in order to further the safety of the village.
“This law will ensure that wireless equipment installed complies with federal law and regulations governing telecommunications facilities,” Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi said. “Accordingly, the board seeks to implement a set of regulations that shall apply to and govern any and all applications for commercial, wireless facilities in the village.”
Establishing regulations for permits, the village has stated in the law that no person shall be permitted to site, place, build, construct, modify or prepare any site for the placement or use of a wireless telecommunications facility without obtaining a building permit from the village’s department of buildings.
A new facility must also be granted a special use permit from the board of trustees.
Suozzi has noted that the law can be reviewed on the village’s website and that it is in regards to not only existing cell antennas, but future construction projects as well.
Former village trustee Bruce Torino made numerous suggestions of additions to the law, which included future applications seeking approval requiring aerial photographs, as well as digital photographs of the proposed site.
Resident Mary Timmins, who has been outspoken against the proposal by Crown Castle, applauded the village board.
“This village is recognizing the need of a telecommunications ordinance today and not five years from now,” Timmins said. “I’m thrilled that our residents are finally getting the protection they need to preserve our property values, health and not live in a backyard with a cell antenna.”
Brandon Ray, regional director of external affairs for AT&T Long Island, attended the public hearing and presented letters from CTIA (Cellular Telephone Industries Association) and the New York State Wireless Association on their willingness to work with the village on projects.
Kerry Foster, representing Amato Law Group in Garden City and the New York State Wireless Association and CTIA, requested that the hearing be left open and not be adopted that evening, providing more time for both organizations to comment on the proposed ordinance.
Timmins addressed those representatives and urged them to consider the families and property values of the village.
In other news:
• The village board voted unanimously to appropriate $725,000 from surplus to capital projects, which will fund the village’s LED lighting project. The funding of this project will be paid back from electric expense reductions in the next five years. According to Suozzi, there are 2,500 fixtures in Garden City, and the project will replace 2,100. The estimated annual electricity savings are $150,000 in addition to $45,000 in maintenance savings, which Suozzi totaled at a $2 million savings for the village.
