Hoosick Planning Board Okays Cell Tower Expansion

by Gary Danforth
The Town of Hoosick Planning Board meeting took place Monday evening, July 20, in the Hoosick Falls Armory with chairman Jim Dunigan calling the meeting to order at 7:38 pm, leaving the public hearing on the expansion of services on a utility tower that was held one half hour before the regular meeting open for further comment. Following the Pledge of Allegiance the minutes of the previous month’s meeting were approved. There were four of seven Board members present. Board Attorney Stan King was in attendance as was Recording Secretary Karen Jennings.
In the first action before the Board, Stephen Woodworth, representing AT&T, appeared again, wanting to put up a prefabricated 12 foot by 20 foot concrete structure below a pre-existing cell tower structure on LeBarron Road. In previous meetings with the Board it was explained that his company would need to install six antennas on the pre-existing 300 foot tower, presently used by four carriers. King said an application for this action had been received. A site plan was also submitted. A long form environmental assessment form (EAF) was also submitted. A copy of the applicant’s Federal Communication License was also in the packet as was a report by a qualified radio frequency engineer certifying the radio frequencies would be in compliance with federal laws.
The existing tower was built in 1991 and the Town law on cell towers was enacted in 2000. A backup diesel generator will power the cell tower twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, if electricity is lost to the area. The generator would have its own 70 gallon fuel storage tank and would be able to run for three continuous days without refueling. There would be a catch pan to prevent diesel spills. Russ Reave, acting on the Town’s behalf as a licensed professional engineer, was at this meeting.
This cell tower site was inspected in 2007 with maintenance asked for on same. There had been previous discussion of the cell tower collapse zone, whether the maintenance requested from the 2007 inspection had been completed and whether the foundation supporting the tower was safe for the additional weight that this expansion to the present tower would create. Also, the Board wanted a bond on the tower to protect the Town in case the tower had to be taken down and a certificate of insurance for protection for the Town for liability.
After listening to Reave talk about this cell tower during the public hearing, the Board still had concern about whether the bond was still in place to protect the Town from liability, whether the cell tower owner had proper liability insurance coverage still in effect and whether the safety modifications previously in question had been fulfilled. Reave assured the Board that the cell tower was in compliance with current industry standards but that New York State had additional standards which must be met. The Board and applicant had previously gone over the first half of the environmental assessment form (EAF). On this night the Board and applicant went over the second half of the EAF, ending with a negative finding, meaning the Board felt this addition to the existing tower would not have an impact on the environment or township.
Further discussion revealed a $75,000 security bond to still be in effect to be used for dismantling of the tower should it need to be done. AT&T had posted their own bond for this new cell tower addition.
The Board passed a motion to close the public hearing to further discussion. Then, the Board passed a motion declaring a negative environmental impact for the project. Finally, the Board passed the site plan for this cell tower addition, contingent upon verification that the insurance bond for liability to the Town is still in force and that the requested maintenance update work be done before the Town Building Inspector will issue a building permit for the tower work to begin. Reave will furnish the Board with a letter stating such work has been completed and then the cell tower update work can proceed.
Lastly, the Board heard an initial consultation from Sherman Baker to subdivide lands off Bovie Hill Road from the present Baker estate. Baker wants to buy a parcel of land from the Baker estate which has parcels totaling 72 acres and 158 acres. There is an existing dwelling on the land wanting to be purchased, with one parcel having 120 feet of road frontage and the other parcel having 800 feet of road frontage. No prior subdivisions had been done to these parcels. The Board asked the applicant to come back next month so progress on this application can go forth.
The two topic meeting adjourned at 8:18 pm.