(Roger Snyder)
On May 15, the Ancram Town Board postponed votes on whether to hire a consultant for a proposed Verizon cell tower and whether to opt out of a state solar tax exemption.
With Supervisor Jim MacArthur and Deputy Supervisor Dave Boice absent, board members Amy Gold, Bonnie Hundt, and Colleen Lutz — constituting a quorum — voted to have Lutz chair the May 15 meeting.
Joining the meeting via Zoom was Elizabeth Smith, vice president and general manager of CityScape Consultants, a national firm that advises municipalities on cell tower proposals. Homeland Towers, which submitted a plan to construct a Verizon tower on Route 22, recommended CityScape as a third-party advisor. Smith emphasized that her firm works only for local governments. “We work for you [the Town], not them,” she said.
When Gold asked whether CityScape had ever advised against tower construction, Smith replied, “Yes. Including in cases where Homeland has subsequently withdrawn its applications.” She also reminded board members of the federal 150-day “shot clock,” which limits the time a municipality has to approve or deny a tower application once deemed complete.
The board will share Smith’s presentation with MacArthur and Boice ahead of its June meeting, when a formal decision on whether to engage CityScape is expected.
During public comment, support for improved wireless service was clear. “There’s Route 22, there’s the rail trail, and there’s the hiking trails through the Taconic State Park — all with nothing, no reception,” said Highway Superintendent Jim Miller. “It’s a recipe for disaster.” Jim Davenport, representing the Hudson Valley Fresh dairy consortium, also encouraged the town to move forward with cell tower development.
Earlier this month, concerns were raised about another proposed project in town — a 10-acre solar installation off Route 82. At a special meeting on May 1, Emily Miller, who runs Millerhurst Farm with her husband Michael, urged the board to consider opting out of the state’s property tax exemption for solar projects. Miller’s concern centered on the potential impact to the town’s tax base if the exemption remained in place and the solar installation moved forward on neighboring land.
The board agreed to seek legal advice before making a decision in June. If approved by the Planning Board, the solar farm could move forward later this year.
Infrastructure and quality of life issues were also on the agenda. Lutz proposed repurposing the solar panels recently removed from the town hall roof by installing them on a pavilion planned for Blass Field. Town Clerk Monica Cleveland suggested donating the panels to a state-run job training program instead.
Lutz also reported that she is interviewing candidates for a new grant-writing consultant to help the town pursue funding opportunities.
Gold said she contacted the Columbia County Department of Transportation to request a crosswalk and flashing lights across Route 7, connecting Blass Field to the Little Store and post office parking lot.
Pavilion construction remains in the early planning stages, and questions persist over whether the project will require Planning Board approval or only a permit from the building department. Hundt told the board the construction timeline is still to be determined.
Hundt also reported on a May 10 affordable housing workshop, held in coordination with Copake and Hillsdale. The workshop revealed stark demographic trends: over the past six years, newcomers to Columbia County have reported average incomes above $160,000, while those leaving the county have incomes below $70,000 and cite lack of affordable housing as a major reason for leaving.
Jack Lindsey, co-director of Ancramdale Neighbors Helping Neighbors Association, brought another concern to the board’s attention — federal cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture are already affecting the food pantry’s supply chain. “This impacts all of the people who depend on food assistance, and also the farmers for whom USDA was an important customer,” Lindsey said.
He noted that Rock Steady Farm in Millerton, a key supplier, has federal funds on hold. Sky High Farm in Ancram is trying to increase deliveries to the pantry from once a month to three times a month, he said. Lindsey thanked the board for supporting the pantry van and driver, but added, “Our volunteer workforce is again out,” and asked if the town could assist with staffing needs.
Before adjourning, the board voted to direct the Zoning Board to begin drafting regulations to encourage affordable housing development. Members also approved a search for a web designer to update the municipal website.