Shandaken’s Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously voted to approve four variances for Verizon’s proposed 50-foot wireless pole near the Big Indian-Oliverea Fire Department, allowing it to move to the Planning Board for a public hearing and potential approval.
Two variances alter how far a pole is set from property lines, one allows it to be built within a highway business zoning district and the fourth permits Verizon to be its sole cellular provider. While such structures typically support two or more providers, this one can fit only one antenna because it would be a utility pole, not a cellular tower, said Julia Monahan, who represented Verizon at the ZBA’s June 17 meeting,
“The way that these utility poles function is that there is not the ability to site multiple carriers on these poles,” she said. It’s designed to improve wireless coverage and service for residents and emergency responders within a 0.4-mile radius, Verizon has said.
Board member Jeremy Bernstein and a Shandaken resident asked whether the pole will assist emergency responders and residents who don’t use Verizon.
“Will this provide any coverage for these rescue squad, fire people if they don’t have Verizon?” Bernstein asked.
“It will help with those who use Verizon,” Monahan replied.
The smaller poles aren’t meant to replace larger cellular investments, said ZBA Chair Allen Vella. The proposed pole would be shorter than other recent cell tower proposals in Shandaken, including a 160-foot tower at 1466 Wittenberg Road in Mount Tremper that town officials approved last year.
“These are micro-towers which are meant to fill in,” he said. “They’re not taking the place of a large tower.”
The towers also aren’t meant to supply emergency radios, which have their own set of requirements separate from cellular coverage.
The proposed pole will allow anyone, regardless of their cellular provider, to call 911, according to Monahan and board member Ruby Huber.
“I will be able to now know that if I run my car off the road, I can at least call 911 regardless,” Huber said.
Kyle Bredberg is an intern and contributing reporter. You can reach him at reporting@theoverlooknews.com.
