Sleepy Hollow trustee skeptical of cellphone tower proposal
Amid negotiations over a controversial cellphone tower, some Sleepy Hollow officials say they aren't convinced the proposed 125-foot-tall structure is the best option for improving communication in the area.
It's been nearly a year since National Wireless Ventures LLC first introduced its plan to install the cell tower just south of the village hall and police station at 1 Thorobred Lane. Though the tower is a permitted use on village-owned land, company representatives and Sleepy Hollow officials are now debating the terms of a lease agreement, which could put about $20,000 into the village's coffers each year.
The proposed cell tower would improve cell service and data speed in the area for users of three wireless carriers, including AT&T, said Mike Stevens, zoning manager for National Wireless. It is also expected to enhance QuadCom communication services.
But many Sleepy Hollow residents have been speaking out against the cell tower since last year, arguing it would diminish the village's rural atmosphere. During a presentation Monday, Trustee Scott Finney questioned whether the company has exhausted all technical alternatives that may be less aesthetically intrusive.
National Wireless representatives said other options, such as MicroCell antennas or a distributed antenna system, would either be too costly or would fail to provide enough improved coverage. Stevens added the size of the tower is necessary for the village's valley-like topography.
Calling the company's claims "uncompelling," Finney asked to see proof that the tower is the most viable option.
"I'm somewhat skeptical of this very easy dismissal for an alternative approach that would be much more invisible," Finney said. "(That) is our primary concern in terms of maintaining the look and feel of the village."
National Wireless has presented Sleepy Hollow officials with several cell tower designs, such as a monopole or a tri-tower, that may help it blend in with the village's scenery, Stevens said, noting it wouldn't contain any lights. He refused to provide the Daily Herald with examples of such designs and also declined to comment on the company's target installation date.
Urging trustees not to move forward with the proposal, resident Rich English read a passage from a village newsletter that highlighted a plan to preserve the scenic aspect of Sleepy Hollow.
"I don't see and understand how a cell tower along Sleepy Hollow Road in any way, shape or form fits in with that comprehensive plan," he said.