Legislature adopts negative declaration for Rosendale public‑safety radio tower after debate on timing and outreach

Ulster County’s legislative committee voted to adopt a negative declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (6 NYCRR Part 617) for a proposed public‑safety radio tower at the Rondout Municipal Center in Rosendale, concluding the SEQR short form did not indicate significant environmental impacts but leaving procedural steps for towns and later construction approvals.

Everett Erickson, director of emergency services, told the committee the Rosendale site is one of 16 planned tower sites needed to create a simulcast public‑safety radio system. He said the site provides a crucial microwave link to ensure interoperability across fire, police and EMS channels and flagged a target live date for the overall system of 2027.

County counsel/director Doyle walked the committee through the SEQR analysis and related studies: a visibility assessment (42 photo viewpoints with visibility from four), a bat/tree‑cutting timing approach or bat survey option, and an electromagnetic emissions (EME) study comparing expected exposures to federal standards (with cited values described as well below federal limits: under roughly 4% of the standard for workers and under 10% for the public in the summary presented). Doyle also noted federal NEPA/SHPO coordination and said the project produced a ‘no adverse effect’ finding in those reviews.

Timing and public input: Legislators debated whether to delay action a month so the town’s public hearing could precede the committee vote. Doyle and Erickson said a delay was workable but not ideal for scheduling; they emphasized the county could adopt the negative declaration now and, if new information emerged at the town hearing, rescind or convert it to a positive declaration later. Committee members stressed that final construction still depends on town determinations, easement agreements with the co‑owning towns and a later bonding approval by the legislature.

Cell‑coverage and co‑location: Doyle said Verizon approached the town seeking co‑location and provided an engineering necessity study; county policy allows co‑location where practical to extend cell coverage. Doyle explained tower loading constraints (public‑safety antennas and microwave dishes), antenna heights, and emergency backup systems.

Vote and next steps: After debate, the committee adopted the negative declaration on a voice vote and passed the resolution out of committee; staff said additional approvals (town Monroe‑test finding, easement/lease agreements, and bonding) are required before construction can proceed.

Ending: The committee approved the SEQR determination but agreed to continue public outreach, and staff will coordinate with the town of Rosendale as the separate local approvals proceed.