The Quogue Village Board on Friday nixed two proposals, both filed by T-Mobile, for a new cell phone tower to replace the existing one behind the Quogue firehouse on Jessup Avenue.
David Hennon, a site acquisitions representative from T-Mobile, presented two plans during the board’s monthly meeting, both of which called for the installation of a 100-foot-tall tower. The main difference between the two options is that one called for a needle-like tower, while the second proposed a wider tower.
Though they acknowledged that there is a need to replace the existing, 80-foot-tall cell tower, which is also currently used by the village’s emergency services, board members said they were not happy with either plan submitted by T-Mobile.
“Visually, it’s so much more intrusive than the existing tower,” Quogue Village Trustee Jeanette Obser said of the proposed 100-foot-tall tower. “I think it is horrible.”
Mr. Hennon explained that the phone carrier needs to expand its service, as customers have complained for years that there is not adequate cell phone reception on Dune Road and in the surrounding areas.
He explained that installing the tower directly behind the firehouse, on village-owned land, is ideal because there are already existing towers there, which are used by the Quogue Village fire and police departments. He also noted the property’s proximity to Dune Road. “Our engineers love that site,” Mr. Hennon said.
If the tower is built, T-Mobile would pay about $2,000 a month to lease the land. Quogue Village Mayor George Motz said the phone company has the option of leasing space on its tower to other cell phone carriers, a move that would allow the village to collect additional revenue.
Mayor Motz said some village residents would oppose the new designs for the tower, suggesting that they would be considered eyesores. “If you build this ... you will probably lose residents in the village,” he said.
The board asked the phone company to consider other more aesthetically pleasing options. Trustee Peter Sartorius suggested that the company consider installing a tower that resembles a pine tree.
Tim Fincham, T-Mobile’s Long Island manager of engineering development, said in a statement that his company would look into other options.
“We’re currently exploring potential locations throughout the area where families, as well as the local police and fire departments, would benefit from enhanced wireless coverage,” he said in a statement.
Mayor Motz said a Verizon cell phone tower located on 10 acres of village land off Old Country Road raises more than $100,000 in revenue for the village each year.
The mayor said the next step will be for T-Mobile to submit another plan for the Jessup Avenue site. “The ball is in their court,” he said.
Board Grants Zone Change
After months of debate, the Village Board approved a change of zone that will allow a developer to build four homes on land he owns in exchange for renovating and preserving the Weathervane, the historic Jessup homestead.
On Friday, the board altered the zoning on the 2.5 acres, also known as the Inn at Quogue property, from the B-1 district to a special resident district.
The decision brings to an end a long-standing debate over how Westhampton Beach developer Rocco Lettieri could redevelop the property, which currently features an inn and 52 motel units. The land is located near the intersection of Jessup Avenue and Quogue Street.
The zone change will yield Mr. Lettieri a total of five single-family homes on the property, one more than was allowed under previous zoning. In the past, some residents have complained that Mr. Lettieri’s plan was too dense for the village.
“I’m pleased that we got that done,” Mayor Motz said.
The developer must next submit a site plan to Village Board members. If he gains their approval, he will then have to submit his application to the Quogue Planning Board for final approval.
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Board nixes pair of cell phone tower proposals
Source: 27east.com
Date: 07/02/2009
