Bethpage-Tribune_2008-04-04

              B£THPAG£ PUBLIC UBr
Volume 46 Number 14 329 Broadway., Bethpage, NY 11714 April 4-10, 2008 (516)681-0440 ext. 21 FAX (516)681-9354 Email: Nuz2u@aol.com 50 Cents
Proposed Cell Tower in Bethpage Sparks Debate at ZBA Meeting
We all have them. We all use
them and it seems we all rely on
them. Cell phones have become a
necessity to almost everyone due to
the busy lives we all lead and also
the need to be in contact with every­one
at a moment's notice. They have
become instant mapping devices
equipped with GPS to get us all
from place to place as well as per­sonal
secretaries to keep our dates,
appointments and commitments in
order.
On March 27 cell phones or
more specifically the towers that are
needed to send signals to the cell
phones as well as GPS devices was
the topic of a heated debate at a
meeting of the Zoning Board of
Appeals in Oyster Bay.
The proposal by Verizon was to
erect 2 antennas strapped to the
front of the St. Martin of Tours
School building in Bethpage, 8
antennas inside a shed-like facility,
2 small GPS antennas and a larger
trailer type building to be added to
the roof. It was stated that these new
structures would be matched to the
facade of the building and the shed­like
structure would be covered to
blend with the building as well.
Approximately 3 lawyers and
several experts from Verizon were
on hand as well as approximately 6
people representing St. Martin of
Tours Church. There were also
about 30 Bethpage residents who
came out to voice their concerns
over this cell tower proposal.
As part of the his testimony a
Verizon attorney reminded everyone
that due to the Telecommunications
Act passed in 1996, health concerns
could not be taken into considera­tion
by the Zoning Board of
Appeals, as long as the federal stan­dards
are met. Further testimony
was made by Verizon that the new
additions to the school building
would be aesthetically pleasing and
that materials would be used to
blend with the existing brick of the
building. Verizon representatives
also testified that the air condition­ing
units housed on the roof in this
shed like structure would not pose
any noise problem.
Another expert then testified
about radio frequency and FCC reg­ulations.
He indicated that they were
allowed by FCC regulations to run
these particular units at full capacity
but that they would be running at
approximately 1.95% with continu­ous
exposure. The comparison was
then made to microwaves and baby
monitors.
Verizon reps went on to explain
that there are cellular deficiencies in
the area which is why the location of
St. Martin of Tours School was the
optimum choice. It was also suggest­ed
that the co-mingling of residential
and commercial use in the surround­ing
community make this a good
location and that the antennas and
other apparatus would create no
environmental risk.
A discussion then ensued
between a ZBA member and one of
the Verizon attorneys as to the stan­dard
that is being used to determine
what is needed and where.
An appraiser and expert for
Verizon was asked to speak if this
proposal would not have a damaging
effect to property values. The exam­ple
he used was that similar appara­tus
was installed in 2006 in
Uniondale and that the homes sold in
that area were selling for around the
same price as before the unit was
installed and a site acquisition expert
from Verizon then spoke about how
alternative sights such as Sleepy's,
the King Kullen Office Building and
even the Bethpage Fire Department
were unavailable due to various rea­sons.
At this time residents concerned
about this proposal were given the
chance to speak. One resident Jeanne
O'Connor, who was instrumental in
getting the word of this proposal out
to her neighbors, addressed the
Zoning Board and stated that she
believes that serious health concerns
associated with electronic magnetic
radiation are a real concern and that
this proposal would have an
extremely negative impact on prop­erty
values as she believes many res­idents
in the immediate area would
put their homes up for sale. She also
stated that these antennas are located
within approximately 500 feet of 3
Bethpage Nursery Schools as well as
1000 feet from our Middle School
and Central Blvd. Elementary
School as well as the Plainedge
Middle School.
Another concern brought up by
a Bethpage resident was the exist­ing
environmental concerns includ­ing
a contaminated plume under­foot
as well as the constant drilling
and filtering going on in the neigh­borhood.
Verizon was then questioned as
to why they did not consider the
Grumman property as a viable
location. A Verizon rep stated that it
was out of range. They were then
asked about the Bethpage Water
Tower and they responded that
negotiations fell through. A mem­bers
of the ZBA asked Verizon why
they could not erect these antennas
at the Grumman site on a higher
building. He indicated that when
Verizon had gone before the ZBA
before, they indicated that the high­er
these antennas go the more cov­erage
they get. No answer was
given by Verizon.
A Bethpage architect testified
that he felt there were discrepancies
in the Verizon drawings and that he
felt that variances needed to be
obtained in order to erect the anten­nas.
Testimony continued from the
audience and the Zoning Board of
Appeals stated that they would
keep this case open for an addition­al
2 weeks so that Verizon could
present evidence as to why the
Grumman facility should not be
considered as a viable alternative
location. It was also indicated that
everyone who attended the meeting
as well as any concerned residents
who were not present can submit
any additional concerns or prob­lems
to the Zoning Board of
Appeals during this two week peri­od
of time.
You can send your comments
and or concerns to the Zoning
Board of Appeals by sending a let­ter
to Town of Oyster Bay Zoning
Board of Appeals, 74 Audrey
Avenue. Oyster Bay, New York
11771.
The Bethpage Tribune will keep
you informed as to the outcome of
this hearing as well as any addition­al
information which is brought to
our attention in regards to this cell
phone tower proposal.