East Hampton councilors ask Southampton planning board to deny proposed tower near municipal border

Three East Hampton city councilors formally submitted a letter to the Southampton Planning Board on June 3 asking that the board deny a proposed large telecommunications tower at One Cook Road unless the applicant thoroughly evaluates alternative siting, collocation and visual-impact mitigation.

Counselor Smith—joined by Council President Connie Denham and Counselor Jamra McQuade in the written correspondence—told the council that many East Hampton residents live close enough to be affected by the proposed facility and raised concerns about visual change, property-value effects and proximity to homes and children. The letter requests a complete analysis of feasible alternatives and said the current filing has not demonstrated that the proposed site is the only option.

Smith also reported outreach issues: the public display of the proposed tower’s height used weather balloons for a short interval, and notices sent by certified mail were apparently not picked up by some residents; as a result, she said many neighbors were unaware of the pending hearing. The letter requests the Southampton board give “substantial weight” to the testimony of affected families and to reject the proposal if less intrusive options exist.

Council President Denham read the correspondence into the record and said the councilors were acting on behalf of East Hampton residents who would bear the brunt of the tower’s impacts despite the facility being sited in Southampton.