ANDES — It was standing room only as Andes residents packed the Andes Town Hall for the recent joint Public Hearing, held by the Andes Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.    The hearing was planned as an informative session on the proposed new location for the Andes cell tower as well as presenting an opportunity for the public to ask questions and voice any concerns they might have about the project and its new site.  

Robert Abbate, Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman, opened the hearing by welcoming the attendees and clarified that their input would be shared with the two Boards before    decisions were made on the site plan itself and on a set-back variance requested by Bluewing, the company building the tower.   He then turned over the hearing to Bluewing’s Mark Hoppe for an overview of the project based on its new higher location on a north ridge of the Andes Rural Cemetery, on Cemetery Road off High Street.

“The higher up we went on the ridge from the tower’s original site closer to the cemetery, the more community residents we will be able to serve,” Hoppe explained.  The original site would have delivered service solely to Andes’ core business area.  This second site extends coverage to the hamlet, route 28, up Gladstone Hollow Road and out County Route 1.”  It is further from the cemetery and residences.”

When questioned as to whether the new location would cover Andes residents living on the other side of the Pepacton reservoir, Hoppe responded that coverage would not extend across the reservoir due to the hills and dense terrain.   The tower’s sight-line would be comprised and the tower’s 800 MHz high frequency radio waves would be blocked.  

The proposed tower will be 182 feet high and in its new location is further from existing property lines by 450 feet on one side and 610 feet on the other, falling short of the 650- foot legal requirement on that side.   Blue Wing has requested a variance on this set-back, which the Zoning Board of Appeals will evaluate.   Andes resident, Mary Peterson, asked how far the new location is from the Andes school.  Hoppe responded that the proposed tower would be well outside of the school’s vicinity at 1200 to 1600 feet.

The proposed cell tower can accommodate four cell phone carriers.  One had already been signed but Hoppe could not disclose its name at this time.  He added that talks were continuing with two other carriers. Residents expressed concern that they would be influencing a vote on the new proposed tower without knowing if major carriers such as AT&T and Verizon had committed to it. 

Hoppe pointed out that Bluewing would not begin constructing the tower without a firm carrier commitment, adding that carrier interest in a cell tower is often based on how many cell phone customers are already using its service in a particular area.  Ann Roberti asked whether a person could still get an emergency 911 call through if they didn’t have one of the cell-tower’s carriers.  Hoppe responded in the affirmative.   

Attendees also raised questions as to the lifespan of the tower and whether it would shut down during power outages.   He explained that the individual carriers are responsible for providing backup power.   Carriers like AT&T and Verizon  have their own power systems that  include batteries and generators.  As for the life of the tower, it is predicted to last forty to fifty years.  

Andes resident Mary Davis inquired as to where the tower’s data-carrying fiber optic cables would be located. Hoppe answered that the fiber lines will utilize existing poles going up Cemetery Road and will run underground from there to the tower.  Questioned as to whether any new utility poles would be installed on Cemetery Road, he indicated that one or two could be placed on the road by a utility company like MTC.   Exact placement and plans for overhead lines would need to be finalized. 

Jim Andrews asked whether residents living on High Street could anticipate increased traffic.  Hoppe maintained that there could be heavier equipment during the construction stage, but after that lighter service vehicles would use High Street when needed for maintenance.  Bluewing has also submitted plans for an alternate access road that would run along Dirty Girl Farm’s boundary up to the tower.

Safety was another concern voiced by Andes resident Linda Short, who pointed out that there could be long-term health risks from the tower’s Radio Frequency emissions.

Hoppe pointed out that scientific evidence had not established a direct link between cell tower emissions and health problems such as cancer or neurological conditions.

When asked for a timeline on when tower construction would begin, Hoppe noted that it would depend on the decisions the two Boards make once they have assimilated public feedback from the hearing. He estimated that some work could start this Fall, but that the bulk of the work would be done next Spring.