Some Yorktown residents are calling on their town government to stop developers from building a new cell tower in a residential area.
According to public Town of Yorktown documents, a 130-foot macro cell tower is currently set to be installed at 62 Granite Springs Road in Yorktown Heights after the town said a recent county-wide study identified a need for service.
Yorktown Town Supervisor Ed Lachterman said the proposal is aimed to help improve efficiency and connectivity in the area, especially involving emergency responses.
In a letter written to residents Jan. 8, Lachterman said the neighborhoods near Granite Springs Road “illustrate very poor to non-existent wireless coverage, which are the areas in greatest need of wireless infrastructure.”
“Reliable wireless service is not a luxury. It is a necessity for public safety, emergency response, education, business, and everyday communication,” Lachterman wrote. “In recent years, gaps in coverage have been identified in portions of Yorktown. These gaps can delay emergency services, hinder remote work and learning, and limit access to critical information.”
Homeland Towers, a Danbury-based technology firm, is currently in charge of the installation project and selected the site on the property of Stuart’s Fruit Farm out of four options, as it “offers the most effective balance of technical performance, public safety, and compliance with zoning and environmental considerations,” according to Lachterman.
Some residents condemn cell tower project over tree removal, aesthetic impacts
However, some Yorktown residents are fighting against the proposal, highlighting concerns about environmental and health safety risks for residents in the area.
The group No Cell Tower Yorktown said they believe the cell tower will not actually improve service in the area, and will instead cause environmental and health risks, decrease home values and “decrease the neighborhood aesthetic.”
The group also raised concerns about the site’s proximity to Brookside Elementary School and drainage into nearby Sparkle Lake, a part of the New York City watershed.
The proposal calls for the removal of 84 mature trees in the area, which is known to flood occasionally, and would disturb a wetlands buffer that is home to several endangered species, according to No Cell Tower Yorktown.
“We believe macro cell towers do not belong in residential areas,” read a petition on Change.org published Sunday, Jan. 18. “We believe that cutting down over 80 mature trees will be detrimental to the management of stormwater in the area, negatively affect the water quality in Sparkle Lake, negatively affect the air quality in the area, negatively impact the adjacent wetlands and disturb the habitat of protected species.”
Yorktown: Cell tower installation will consider community concerns
In response to opposition from the public in a December town board meeting, Lachterman said in the letter to Yorktown residents that the town is committed to meeting safety standards and limitations.
“We understand that any infrastructure project can raise questions and concerns, particularly regarding aesthetics, property values, safety, and environmental impact,” Lachterman wrote. “Please know that the Town is committed to ensuring that any installation meets or exceeds all safety standards, is tested for full compliance with FCC limitations, incorporates design elements to reduce visual impact, and is sited in a way that respects the character of our community.”
The Yorktown Town Board will hold a public meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m., where residents are encouraged to share their opinions about the proposed cell tower.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Yorktown residents rankled by 130-foot residential cell tower proposal
Reporting by Alexandra Rivera, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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