By Brian Zanzonico
That is what residents who live near the West Hempstead Water District Tower on 7th Street in Franklin Square argued about a company's proposal to install six wireless communication antennae on the structure, along with ground equipment. Surrounding blocks, including Margaret Street, and Roxbury Road South in Garden City South, count dozens of children among its residents. Neighbors worried that the antennae could expose their children - and themselves - to potentially harmful radiation.
On the strength of 330 signatures gathered in three days on petitions circulated by Ricci Ritirato of Margaret Street- whose house is located directly behind the planned location of the cellphone's fuel-operated generator - and 7th Street homeowner Lisa Teitz, it appears the residents have defeated Omnipoint Communications, Inc.'s plan. A public hearing regarding the special exception permit sought by the the company was scheduled for the Town of Hempstead's Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday, Dec. 14, but was removed from the agenda because the landlord withdrew permission, according to Town of Hempstead spokeswoman Susie Trenkle.
The West Hempstead Water District had initially granted permission to Omnipoint to install the antennae, but resolved at the Board of Water Commissioners Dec. 1 meeting to rescind its consent.
"Please be advised that the West Hempstead Water District will not give a lease to Omnipoint Communications, Inc., or any other cellular carrier to place cell phone antennae at the West Hempstead Water District tower...," West Hempstead Water District Chairman Emedio Torre wrote in a letter to Joseph Pellegrini, secretary of the Board of Zoning Appeals. "Obviously, since there is no lease and the West Hempstead Water District will not enter into a lease, please remove [it] from the public hearing calendar."
On the morning of Saturday, Nov. 26, Ritirato received a certified letter from Omnipoint's lawyer, Lawrence Re, and found a request for variance/special exception to install the antennae on the water tower and ground level commercial equipment 50 feet from his house. A father of two, Ritirato worried the presence of the antennae could harm his children, so he searched the Internet for ways to fight such a proposal. He found that the most effective way would be through petitions signed by neighbors opposing the plan. He paid a visit to Teitz around the corner, who also received the letter. On the way over, he saw a man doing yard work and asked if he, too, was notified about the antennae. The man got his letter a day earlier and his wife had already started writing letters to the Town of Hempstead and the West Hempstead Water District and drew up a petition.
In just a few days, hundreds of signatures were collected on petitions. In talking with residents, who also feared long term health implications, Ritirato found there was also concern for the value of their homes being reduced by the "eyesore" and how it simply did not belong in a residential neighborhood. Four days later, the water district's board of commissioners reconsidered Omnipoint's proposal and withdrew permission.
"There's no place for that here," he said.
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