Planning board grants conditional approval for 190-foot Verizon tower, requires engineering fixes

The Rome Planning Board on Aug. 11 moved forward with a proposed 190-foot telecommunications tower for Verizon at 6507 Lowell Road, issuing a SEQR negative declaration and conditional site-plan approval.

Drew Curran, representing Verizon, told the board the application was submitted May 11 and that the team provided materials the board requested after the June meeting, including a fire-department letter, a sound study and an FAA study. "We're looking today for a negative sequel declaration and site plan approval," Curran said. Planning staff reported the 30‑day comment period closed with no substantial objections and recommended a SEQR negative declaration and conditional approval subject to corrections.

Third‑party reviewer Colliers Engineering flagged technical issues the applicant must address before a building permit is issued. Diana Corio of Colliers said the reviewer needs a signed site-selection analysis, a professional-engineer stamp for parts of the environmental assessment form, an estimate of annual electricity demand, plans addressing construction solid-waste generation, a meets-and-bounds description for the lease, a structural-design analysis, a revised tower-removal agreement to reflect cost recovery, parking-space locations, and antenna and equipment colors and signage. "The plans currently don't indicate where the 2 parking spaces that are required are located, so those should be added to the plans," Corio said.

After discussion, a board member moved to issue the SEQR negative declaration and a separate motion granted conditional site-plan approval with the condition that the Colliers corrections be incorporated. Both motions passed unanimously.

The board's approvals allow the applicant to proceed toward permitting, but the conditions must be satisfied prior to permit issuance, per the Colliers memo and staff recommendation.