Cell tower approval still pending

By CHARLIE BUTERBAUGH

NARROWSBURG, NY — After an outpouring of support from town residents and officials, the Tusten Planning Board authorized Richard Lander to raise a 300-foot communications tower in Royal Oaks Estates, a 100-foot increase of the originally approved height.

But according to Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Chairman Anthony Ritter, the review process did not warrant the go-ahead.

At the October 6 ZBA meeting, Ritter said the 100-foot increase requires an area variance and the application should have come before the ZBA before the planning board’s review of a special use application.

While recognizing public woes about poor cellular coverage, Ritter said the project would have been stopped eventually without the needed variance.

Because of the expanding wireless needs of the river valley, Lander said cellular vendors will invest in antennas for the tower and provide the needed link between towers in Beach Lake, PA and White Lake, NY.

He has received conceptual approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, though progress for the tower will depend on ZBA deliberations. A public hearing has been scheduled for November 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tusten Town Hall.