The Ancram Planning Board has approved a test to evaluate the visibility of a proposed 150-foot cell tower off Route 22, a project by Homeland Towers on behalf of Verizon Wireless.
At its Feb. 6 meeting, the board authorized Homeland Towers to conduct a balloon test, in which a three-foot-diameter balloon will be floated to the proposed height of the tower on Feb. 22, with a weather contingency date of March 1. The test is intended to help assess how the tower would impact sight lines in the area.
The board plans to publicize the date of the test so that residents within a two-mile radius can observe the balloon and provide feedback. As part of its application process, Homeland Towers intends to submit a visual analysis at the board’s March 6 meeting, including photo simulations depicting the tower in various settings. Verizon has also agreed to place $5,000 in escrow in advance of the application.
While Ancram’s zoning regulations permit cell towers up to 100 feet in height, Verizon has indicated it will seek a variance from the Zoning Board. A 100-foot tower, according to David Kenny, an attorney representing Verizon, and Klaus Werner, a regional manager at Homeland Towers, would not be sufficient to provide coverage to a roughly five-mile stretch of Route 22 between Millerton and Copake, an area currently without reliable cell service.
The proposed tower, if approved, would also be available for use by other telecommunications companies and emergency services, according to the applicant.
At the meeting, some residents expressed concern that a 150-foot tower could disrupt the area’s rural character. The proposed site falls within Ancram’s Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone, which town zoning regulations describe as protecting “one of Ancram’s significant scenic resources” and preserving “the scenic beauty along Route 22 and the Harlem Valley for the enjoyment of residents, commuters, recreational users and tourists.”
Three residents urged the board to carefully consider the potential visual impact. Kenny clarified that the tower would not be illuminated at night, and Werner addressed a question about alternative “small cell” technology, stating that engineers had determined it would not adequately address the service gap. He added that the application would include plans for decommissioning and removal if the tower became obsolete.
“This property is the only one we know of available to fill the service gap,” said Kenny. “We are here to ask for the town’s help in making sure that area residents are made as aware as possible of the testing and the proposed tower.”
In other business, the board granted a short-term rental license to Jamie and Hyunjeen Lee for their property at 96 Long Lake Road. At its January meeting, the board had raised concerns about an incomplete application and advertisements that appeared to allow rentals exceeding 30 days, beyond the town’s permitted limit. Those issues have since been resolved.
A neighbor, Angel Thompson, spoke in support of the Lees, describing them as “great neighbors” who spend significant time in Ancram and are not using the property as a commercial investment. “We should be welcoming them to our community, not pushing them away,” Thompson said.