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Shandaken ZBA grants variances for Verizon micro‑tower at Big Indian firehouse
Summary
After public comment from neighbors and county highway staff about coverage limits and single‑carrier constraints, the board voted unanimously on June 17 to grant four variances (one use variance and three area variances) for Cellco Partnership (Verizon) to install a 50‑foot micro wireless pole at 8 Firehouse Road in Big Indian.
The Town of Shandaken Zoning Board of Appeals voted June 17 to grant a use variance and three area variances to Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, for a proposed 50‑foot Class 2 utility pole and wireless antenna at 8 Firehouse Road, Big Indian (tax map 12.7‑2‑33). The parcel is 0.25 acres in a highway business zoning district.
Residents raised concerns at the hearing about cumulative variances at the firehouse property, potential service and maintenance traffic, and visual impacts. Neighbor Wade Baker said he was "concerned about it obstructing the viewshed," and asked how often trucks would service the site. County highway staff member Christian Neil asked whether a 50‑foot pole would provide sufficient coverage across valleys and foliage and asked why only Verizon would be allowed on the pole.
Julia Monahan, regional counsel for the applicant, said the site was designed as a small utility‑pole micro‑site to minimize visual impact, that simulations in the application package show limited viewshed effects, and that these pole‑style sites typically cannot host multiple carriers in the way a monopole can: "It's not like a typical monopole tower...that’s not how the utility pole sites function...So Verizon will be the only antenna on the pole just due to the functionality of a utility pole site." She added the location was selected after a site‑acquisition review of alternatives.
After discussion, the board conducted a roll‑call vote on a single motion to approve all four variances. The roll call recorded affirmative votes from Gary Guglometti, Allen Vela, Frank Cuevas, Ruby Huber, and Jeremy Bernstein; the motion carried. The board noted the county had returned a determination of no impact. The board and counsel said the pole will be serviced "about 2 to 3 times per year."
