North Bellmore FD awaits approval of cell tower

The 150-foot tower standing next to the south station of the North Bellmore Fire Department on Newbridge Road merely looks like a communication pole. But the tower, which was installed over a year ago is actually a cell phone tower in disguise.

The tower replaced the former communication pole and was completely paid for and installed by Verizon Wireless, the main service provider; the North Bellmore Fire Department also reaps about $130,000 in rent annually. That money is used for the fire district's annual budget, Commissioner Pete Gibbons explained; meaning North Bellmore residents pay less in taxes as they have to contribute less to the annual budget. "We incurred no costs," Gibbons said. "There was no cost to the residents."

The cell tower at the south station also received full support from the North Bellmore Civic Association. Gibbons said that the Civic Association submitted a full-page letter supporting the tower when Verizon applied with the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning and Appeals. Because the first tower was approved without opposition from residents, Gibbons said that he did not foresee a problem when the commissioners decided to install another tower at the North Station on Newbridge Road and East Meadow Avenue. However, with recent opposition to the installation of cell antennas in surrounding communities, the new tower was not received well.

The north tower, whose main provider would be T-Mobile, would be 100 feet high and replace the current communication tower, which also stands 100 feet tall. Gibbons said that, like Verizon, T-Mobile is willing to make all necessary accommodations to ease residents' concerns. The tower would look like the one that already exists two miles to the south. T-Mobile is also willing to replace the current fence with a taller, eight-foot fence and plant trees in the area. Like the south tower, the North Bellmore Fire District will not pay any of the cost for the new tower and will receive rent if approved; Gibbons said that the rent from the new tower would likely be near $140,000 annually. That revenue would also come off the Fire District's budget and reduce taxes for residents.

Despite listing the advantages of installing the tower, Gibbons said that he understands the gripe of the community. "We love the community, we're part of the community," Gibbons said of the fire department. Gibbons also noted that if the cell tower does not get approved, a cell tower will be built elsewhere in the area; the 100-foot communication pole will also remain standing. "If it fails, it fails," Gibbons said of the tower. "We still exist and that [communication] poll still exists."

At a recent community meeting at Wantagh High School, Town of Hempstead deputy attorney Charles Kovit announced that the town will adopt a new local law that would prevent the construction of cell towers within 1,500 feet of homes. Gibbons said that if the law is adopted, it would likely not affect the cell tower in North Bellmore as it is in the final stages of hearings.