Planning board issues negative declaration for Verizon tower at 121 Parker Avenue after debate over visibility and alternatives

The Poughkeepsie Planning Board voted 5-1 to issue a negative declaration on the environmental assessment form for a proposed 150-foot Verizon wireless tower at 121 Parker Avenue, clearing the applicant to pursue the zoning path that includes Zoning Board of Appeals variances and later site-plan review.

The motion to approve the EAF was made by Planning Board member Chris Betz and seconded from the chair; the board recorded a 5-1 vote in favor and the motion carried. The board’s legal adviser reminded members the Telecommunications Act and Federal Communications Commission rules limit local authority to deny applications intended to close documented service gaps.

Board members and the applicant spent more than a half hour discussing alternatives, visual impacts and co-location options. Scott Olsen, the Verizon representative, showed coverage maps and said the site is intended to fill a gap between existing antennas near Marist College and the Poughkeepsie transfer station. “Green is a signal strength… negative 85 dBm, which is just signal strength that's a very good signal strength, generally for in‑building,” Olsen told the…