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Montebello continues public hearing on proposed Homeland Towers lease after residents raise coverage, health and property concerns
Summary
The Village Board voted unanimously to continue a public hearing on a proposed Homeland Towers lease to the March 18, 2026 meeting after dozens of residents, an outside attorney and Homeland’s president testified about coverage gaps, alternatives and property‑value concerns.
Mayor Lance N. Millman reopened the continued public hearing on a proposed lease to Homeland Towers for property at 350 Haverstraw Road and noted the Village had obtained an independent RF engineering assessment for the record.
Andrew Campanelli of Campanelli & Associates, a lawyer who said he handles cell tower cases nationwide, presented a "Memorandum in Opposition" and exhibits claiming Homeland is a tower service provider rather than a carrier, arguing the application relied on propagation maps rather than a drive test, predicting homes could be devalued "up to $167,000," and urging the board to refer the application to the zoning board of appeals.
"I want municipalities to enforce their zoning laws," Campanelli said, and he urged alternative siting within Harriman Park.
Multiple residents described conflicting experiences of wireless coverage. Michael Rosenblum of the Tallman Fire Department said several village locations, including Kakiak Park and lower Harriman Park, lack service and that those gaps impede emergency communications. Other residents said they have coverage on private property, suggested small‑cell technology or mini towers as alternatives, and asked the Board to expand notifications about hearings to social media.
Paula Southren and Jennifer Giammatteo told the board they worry about how a tower might affect children with severe or special needs; those speakers framed their remarks as concerns to be considered, not as scientific testimony.
Manny Vicente, president of Homeland Towers, said Homeland responds to carrier requests and that Verizon and T‑Mobile contacted the company for this location. He said drive‑test documentation is part of the application record and argued towers support alarms, backup communications during outages and growing data needs. "Homeland Towers does not determine the need for a tower, the carriers do," Vicente said.
After the public statements and submission of additional materials into the record (including an independent RF engineering report and opposition filings), Deputy Mayor Stacy Caridi moved to continue the public hearing until the Board’s March 18, 2026 meeting to allow the record to remain open and for absent parties to respond; Trustee Bruce Egenhauser seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Trustee Michael Humphrey was absent.
The Board left the record open so parties may submit additional evidence and encouraged carriers or Homeland representatives to appear at a future meeting to answer technical questions.
