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Vertical Bridge outlines two proposed cell‑tower sites on town property; board to host community meetings
Summary
Vertical Bridge presented conceptual plans for a ~120–125-foot monopole at Northwoods Nature Preserve and a similar tower at Barney Road Golf Course, noting parkland alienation, SEQR/NEPA and zoning steps; the company offered to hold site-specific community meetings and the board agreed to schedule forums.
Vertical Bridge representatives presented conceptual proposals on March 18 for two telecommunications sites on town-owned parcels: one at Northwoods Nature Preserve and another at the Barney Road Golf Course.
AJ DeSantis of Vertical Bridge said the company and co-applicant Towers LLC (a joint venture with Verizon) had performed drone-based visibility simulations and preliminary siting work. He described a proposed tower height in the 120–125-foot range with a roughly 10,000-square-foot lease compound and standard fenced equipment area; he said the sites meet the town’s 500-foot residential setback requirement in concept but would require additional engineering, tree surveys, wetland delineation and, because both parcels are confirmed parkland, legislative parkland alienation.
DeSantis described the next steps if the town wishes to proceed: a community meeting for each site, design work, SEQR and other state and federal technical reviews (including FCC/NEPA considerations), negotiation of a lease and subsequent planning- and zoning-board approvals. He offered to host an independent community meeting for each site to gauge local feedback before a formal application is filed.
Board members and open-space committee representatives emphasized the importance of early engagement and asked the company to meet with stewardship and preservation liaisons before broader public forums. Supervisor McBride directed town staff to coordinate two public forums outside of regular board meetings so residents can review materials and ask questions.
What residents should know: Vertical Bridge said both sites are conceptual; final designs, tree impacts, potential access roads and wetland permitting requirements will be determined during the design and permitting phases. The company noted it prefers collocation and said towers will be designed to accommodate multiple carriers to minimize the number of facilities needed.
