Hempstead Town to reveal cell-tower ordinance

The ongoing saga of cell-tower installations in the Town of Hempstead will take an important turn tomorrow.

On Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., the town will hold a public hearing at Town Hall in Hempstead to reveal the contents of a new town ordinance governing cell-tower placements in Merrick and Bellmore, among other communities across the South Shore.

The purpose of the meeting will be to make the public aware of the new code, and to allow residents to comment on it. The town has not officially said whether a vote to approve the code will take place at the meeting.

Installation of cell towers has been a major issue in Merrick and Bellmore for more than a year, when NextG installed cell antennas near homes and schools.

After receiving numerous complaints from residents, including a protest in front of Town Hall on Aug. 3, led by Claudia Borecky, president of the Telecommunications Task Force, the town put a moratorium on cell-antenna installations until a code could be written to manage and control where towers are erected.

The town hired a consultant, Richard Comi of the Center for Municipal Solutions, to assist in completing the code. At an Aug. 16 community meeting at Wantagh High School, the town announced its intention to ban cell towers within 1,500 feet of homes. Tomorrow, the town will announce the remainder of the code.

"I think people need to be able to voice their opinions” at Tuesday’s public hearing, said Borecky. "There are people that have very good suggestions. They need to take a really good look at what the people want."

Borecky met with the Town Board on Sept. 7, and presented a list of requests on behalf of the Telecommunications Task Force to be included in the new code.

While the town announced its intention to ban cell towers near homes, there are still no restrictions on cell towers near schools. Borecky requested that all schools, homes, businesses, day-care centers and houses of worship be notified if they are within 1,500 feet of the proposed site of a cell tower.

In addition, Borecky said she hopes that the cell antennas now installed in Merrick and Bellmore will be required to abide by the new ordinance, and that NextG will be required to file a permit under the new code and meet all of the requirements as if it were a new application.

While Borecky, along with the other members of the Telecommunications Task Force, have criticized the town’s handling of cell-tower placements, she expressed her gratitude at the town’s willingness to comply with the demands of its residents. “For the most part, I’m happy with it,” said Borecky. “All we want is a solid document that the people will be happy with.”

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