The proposal
Cell phone towers and their effects on the community are once again on the minds of residents of Malverne. At a packed Village Hall on Jan. 4, improved cell phone signals, significant revenue for the village and better emergency service communication were publicly weighed against feared health and property value impacts and the perceived detrimental appearance of a 120-foot-tall cell tower.
The crowd gathered to hear testimony at the second part of a hearing, which had begun Dec. 22, on A.G. Towers Inc.'s proposal to erect and maintain a tower on village property at the ballfield next to the Department of Public Works yard at Harris Field, 9 Hempstead Ave.
Five years ago, a different company proposed putting a cell phone antenna on private property next to Village Hall. It took the intervention of state Sen. Dean Skelos to veto its placement. The antenna now sits at exit 17 of the Southern State Parkway.
"The village is deciding whether it would be best to have [the cell phone towers] all in one place and on village property and actually get some money for it," said Malverne Deputy Mayor James Callahan, "or all over the place in the village [and not receive any money]. Some cell phone companies have come in and put up cell phone towers in the village, and they have been below the code." The maximum height of a tower on any structure is 52 feet.
Malverne Police Chief Glen Jacobsen pointed out, "I don't think that half the people in this town know that there is a cell phone tower right across [from the police headquarters]. The apartment house across from the gazebo - there is a huge cell site right there and there's people living in the apartment house right below it and that went in silently."
"[A.G. Towers] would give us revenue that would be between approximately $65,000 and $72,000 a year," said Callahan. "And they would also replace the towers at the fire house and the police department."
Jacobsen is in favor of the deal. "We currently have a 60-foot radio tower that is taxed - it's over its limit of the amount of things I can put on it. But with the new 100-foot towers that this company would donate, [it would] give me the opportunity to get the Malverne Police Reserve and the Malverne Ambulance Corps, as well as all my Malverne Police Department portable radios [working]. Finally, all our radio problems would be resolved. These radio towers cost $100,000 or some crazy amount like that. The truth is, it's going to enhance public safety." The towers that Callahan applied for with the Federal Emergency Management Agency cost $90,000 each. The application was denied.
"The board is not trying to ram anything down anyone's throats," said Callahan. "Technically we don't have to even follow our own zoning laws, so we don't even have to have a hearing on this. If we wanted to put it up, we would. But we want the people to make a decision. [Harris Field] is the least viewable place in the village. The board is trying to get the message out there that this is not a done deal - we want to hear from people. This is the best way for us to do it."
The response
There were people for and against A.G. Towers Inc.'s plan to build the 120-foot tower at last week's hearing, though not one of the 18 residents who addressed the board discussed the aspect of the proposal that would supply the fire and police departments with new towers of their own in addition to $70,000 per year.
Callahan and Mayor Anthony Panzarella explained that the tower would look like a 120-foot flag pole. It would give the village some revenue and eliminate a 1 percent tax increase. The board would use money to pay for road rehabilitation and capital projects instead of for general operating expenses.
Pat Halpin, a representative of A.G. Towers, and Lou Cornacchin, a representative of Scinetics Corp., the company responsible for studying the land and frequencies required by the FCC, were on hand at the public hearing. Halpin explained that A.G. Towers would lease the 30-by-75-foot plot on Harris field for approximately $70,000 a year. He also said that the carriers - Nextel, Sprint, Verizon, Cingular and T-Mobile - are obligated by their federal contracts to find spots in the area to put up towers to improve service. If the village doesn't accept the proposal, the company can make a deal with the Long Island Water Corporation, which owns the property directly behind Harris Field.
Claire Ferguson, who lives down the block from the field, said she has health concerns related to the proposal. Her mother is a recent breast cancer survivor, she said.
"There is no danger at any field point in the community," said Cornacchin.
Callahan said that the Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibited denial of cell towers or other antenna installations based on possible health effects. Nonetheless, one man handed the mayor a stack of pages he printed from the Internet that outlined the harmful health effects of cell-phone towers. The mayor agreed that he would look at it.
One resident asked that the village do research on whether the presence of the 120-foot pole would decrease real estate values. The mayor said he would, and that he would also find out from other towns and villages if cell towers have affected their property values.
Other residents said they welcome the tower. "I am pro-technology and pro-future, and I think this tower should be part of [Malverne's] future," said Mike Giordano.
Bill Bruer said, "I think we should get more than $70,000. Get $100,000 and I've got no complaints."
Christine Margezzi, who lives in the house closest to the field, asked members of the board, "Would you put this up in your yard?"
The board has come to no decision, as Panzarella wants to conduct studies and do research in order to make an informed decision. "It could be another month or two before we have a decision," said Callahan.
Comments about this story? KSalute@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
