Two large red balloons floated above 3333 Route 22 in Ancram on Monday, April 14, the latest development in the application process for a 150-foot cell tower project by Homeland Towers on behalf of Verizon Wireless.
The balloon test, originally scheduled for Feb. 22 but repeatedly postponed due to weather, is intended to help both the Ancram Planning Board and residents visualize the potential impact of the tower on the surrounding landscape. Homeland Towers will use images taken at multiple locations from the balloon test to create illustrations of the proposed structure.
The site lies within the town’s Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone, an area protected under zoning regulations for its pastoral views along Route 22 and in the Harlem Valley.
The project, first introduced to the Planning Board earlier this year, seeks approval for a structure exceeding the town’s current 100-foot height limit. Homeland Towers has said that a 150-foot tower is necessary to provide reliable cell coverage to a 5-mile stretch of Route 22 between Millerton and Copake.
If approved, the tower would be constructed on leased private property and made available for additional carriers and emergency services. The applicant has also submitted plans for decommissioning in the event the tower becomes obsolete.
Monday’s test consisted of a 3-foot-diameter balloon and a smaller secondary balloon, raised to the proposed tower height, visible throughout portions of the Route 22 corridor. Residents within a 2-mile radius were encouraged to view the balloon and share feedback with the Planning Board. A half dozen residents gathered along Route 22 to witness the raising of the red balloons which were stacked vertically, blowing slightly in the early spring winds.
At the Ancram Planning Board’s April 3 meeting, several residents voiced concerns about the visual disruption the tower could cause to Ancram’s rural character. Some cited potential long-term impacts on tourism and property values, given the site’s location within a designated scenic zone.
Others pointed to the need for improved emergency and wireless communication along a busy stretch of road with limited service.
Homeland Towers and Verizon representatives reiterated that alternative technologies, such as small cell installations, would not adequately resolve the coverage gap due to the area’s topography.
The company is expected to submit a full visual analysis in its updated application, including photo simulations of the tower from multiple vantage points based on the balloon test results. The Planning Board is expected to review the updated application at its May 1 meeting, when further public comment is expected.