Lynbrook weighs Metro PCS request

The building at 381 Sunrise Hwy. -- commonly known as the Congressional Building -- has more than 40 cell antennas attached to the top of it, and now the village board is debating whether to let Metro PCS, the fifth largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, put up six more more.

As of now, the Congressional Building has 42 village-permitted antennas on its roof, officials said. However, when officials surveyed the building, they counted 44. Village administrator John Giordano said he didn't know who the additional two belonged to, and that the board needed to know that information before deciding on the case. "We were able to reconcile permits that have been granted since 1993," Giordano said. "Of the 42 antenna permits, 12 were added in 1993, nine more in '97, another nine in '99 and an additional 12 in 2002. We're not sure when the extra two were installed."

Giordano added that the installation of the cell antennas is through an agreement with the building owner and the antenna provider. "It's a private contract with the landlord and the phone company," Giordano said.

Lynbrook Sunrise Realty LLC owns the building, but no one from that office returned several messages left by The Herald.

Before the antennas go up though, Giordano explained, Metro PCS needs a special use permit, which are issued by the village board. If the board awards the permit to the telephone service provider, he said, the company then needs to apply for a building permit from the village's building department. The factors that go into deciding whether the board should issue a special use permit, he added, are based on whether the addition of six more antennas raises any safety issues or if it takes away from the aesthetics of the building.

The lawyer who is representing Metro PCS, John Huber of Huber Lawrence and Abell, said he was not at liberty offer an opinion on the pending application. Officials from Metro PCS could not be reached for comment.