Cellphone Tower at Iacono?

The East Hampton Town Planning Board discussed applications from three cellphone companies on Jan. 27, all at different stages of the site plan review process. Two of the proposals call for placing antennas on existing structures; the third involves erecting a new monopole tower.

The plan that received the most attention, and is likely to be scheduled for a public hearing in the near future, was an application by AT&T to place nine antenna units on the 120-foot-tall windmill lattice tower at Iacono Farm on Long Lane in East Hampton. The units would be sited between 75 and 95 feet above the ground.

The poultry and egg farm, a longtime local landmark, is zoned residential but is in an agricultural overlay district. It uses the power produced by the wind turbine for agricultural purposes.

The planning board first began discussing the project early last year. Since then, at the board’s request, the plan has evolved. The proposal now before the board, according to the memorandum prepared by Eric Schantz, senior town planner, also includes a 336-square-foot equipment shelter, which would be enclosed behind an eight-foot-tall chain- link fence.

The original application showed the antennas protruding from the tower on arms. In the current proposal, they are not only mounted flush to the tower, but painted blue, as suggested by Nancy Keeshan, to match the color of the wind tower and the sky above.

The big question before the board pertained to the town zoning code, which, Mr. Schantz explained, says that agricultural areas are to be avoided when putting up cell towers and antennas. However, John Huber, who frequently represents cellphone companies before the town, told board members that “avoidance areas are directory, not mandatory.”

Reed Jones, the board chairman, expressed support for the proposal, but cautioned that “this is a very slippery slope — this won’t be the last proposal we see on a windmill.”

“I look forward to hearing from the public,” Mr. Jones said, as other board members nodded.

One member is staunchly opposed to the project. “There is another turbine a quarter-mile down the road,” Job Potter said. He warned that once the board signs off on a cell tower in an avoidance area, similar applications from farmers nearby should be expected. Mr. Huber responded that such applications need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

Ian Calder-Piedmonte, himself a farmer, expressed qualified support for the plan. His main concern was that such towers on farms remain dedicated to agricultural use, first and foremost.

Patti Leber asked if the board could see what the finished product will look like. Mr. Huber did not have a rendering available, but will likely have to provide one when the architectural review board, which must also approve the project, weighs in.

Mr. Huber also represented AT&T in its application for a new, although temporary, tower to be erected at the town recycling center off Springs-Fireplace Road in East Hampton, about halfway between the entrance booth and the weigh station.

Mr. Schantz’s memo on this proposal describes three antennas mounted atop a 150-foot-tall mobile monopole, otherwise known as a COW (cell on wheels.) This tower would be used until it can be replaced, at the same location, with a permanent one.

The reason the temporary pole is needed, Mr. Huber explained, is that Cablevision has refused to renew AT&T’s lease on its current tower, nearby at Springs-Fireplace Road and Abraham’s Path. “Verizon is affected as well,” he said.

According to a recent story in The New York Times, Cablevision has introduced a program called Freewheel, intended to compete with cellphone providers. The system relies on Wi-Fi connections rather than the standard cellphone connection.

There is yet another tower near the recycling center, in the Town Highway Department’s yard next door, but that one offers no relief, Mr. Huber said. He told the planning board it is at “211 percent capacity.”

“I’m alarmed to know that the existing tower is at 211 percent,” Kathleen Cunningham said.

“We are doing all this one at a time, without looking at the big picture,” Mr. Potter said.

The problem, Mr. Schantz said, is that the privately owned companies are in competition. “They don’t want to share.”

“The town of East Hampton has been underserved,” Mr. Huber insisted,  saying that cooperation between all sides was needed.

“Maybe the town should do some research and find out what may be coming,” Mr. Calder-Piedmonte said.

The board agreed to ask the town board to take steps to coordinate and consolidate the carriers at the recycling center.

The third cellphone matter before the board that night was non-controversial. It involves swapping out and replacing antennas by Cingular Wireless on the town government tower on Pantigo Road. This has already received a public hearing, and was scheduled to be voted on for final approval last night.