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Planning board schedules July 9 hearing for proposed 150‑foot Homeland Towers cell site
Summary
Attorney for Homeland Towers and Verizon said the visual resource assessment and consultant responses are filed; the board set a special public hearing for July 9 and discussed shot‑clock timing, camouflage options and required zoning variances for height.
The Ancram Planning Board scheduled a special public hearing for a proposed Homeland Towers/Verizon wireless facility on July 9 after the applicant confirmed submission of a visual resource assessment and responses to planner/engineer comments.
"We provided the visual resource assessment and responses," said David Kenny, attorney for the applicant. He told the board the planning application is otherwise complete and that the applicant will present photo simulations and the balloon‑test materials at the hearing. The board noted it declared intent to be lead agency for SEQRA at the May meeting and must wait the 30‑day period before formally designating lead agency. Kenny said the board was on day 29 of that period.
The meeting included a detailed exchange about federal process and design choices. Kenny reminded the board of the Telecommunications Act review 'shot clock' and said the statutory review period for a new tower is 150 days; the applicant said it paused the clock when key deliverables were missing and restarted it after filing the visual report. The board also discussed camouflage and stealth options — painted monopole, monopine (artificial‑tree) designs, or a stealth flagpole — and how height and setback variances would be handled by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The applicant said a 150‑foot tower was proposed as the minimum necessary for service, but that specific height minimization would be discussed in the public hearing and with town consultants.
The board also discussed noticing logistics (1,500‑foot mailing radius) and whether to hold a special meeting for the applicant presentation to avoid overloading a regular agenda. By voice vote the board approved a motion to hold a special public hearing on July 9 at 7 p.m.
