Yorktown Residents Raise Concerns Over Cell Tower Plan

YORKTOWN, N.Y. — Some Yorktown residents are up in arms over the prospect of a 130-foot cell tower being built near their Granite Springs Road neighborhood.

The town would like to procure a 3.87-acre parcel of parkland from the state (a process known as alienation) to build the tower. The town would lease the land to Danbury-based Homeland Towers, the company seeking to build the structure, for $2,000 a month. However, the land in question abuts Granite Springs Road and residents there say it would place the tower practically in their backyards.

Residents told the Town Board at its May 21 meeting that it was being less than transparent about the project—the cell tower discussion was added to the agenda at the last minute catching them unaware.

“I find it concerning and honestly unacceptable that as the property owner who is directly adjacent to this property, I was not notified by the town that this was on the agenda for tonight,” Granite Springs Road resident Karen Erickson told the board. “It is also hard to understand how when I look at the tentative agenda that came out yesterday, this item was not included.”

Erickson said she is registered to receive emails from the town that include the agendas for all of the meetings, but noted the cell tower issue was added just two hours before the Town Board meeting.

“It does not provide people with a chance to arrange to attend a meeting on such short notice,” she said. “[It does not] ensure transparency and fair opportunity [for us] to express our concerns over the alienation and development of this property. [Homeowners] who will be impacted directly should have been notified by the town so they could be here to speak tonight.”

Residents also raised concerns about the health and environmental impacts of the tower, as well as aesthetics.

“I am very concerned with the impact on the ecosystem and wildlife habitat on the land that was donated by a family who insisted it be used as a park area,” said resident Roseann Guzzo. “This is an area with wetlands, forestry, and many different animals, birds, and bats.

“Placing cell phone towers [here] can interfere with migration patterns, disrupt nesting sites, and alter behaviors crucial for the survival of wildlife,” she added.

Homeland Towers originally proposed to lease the property for the tower in July 2022, but the project has remained dormant until now.

The tower would be designed to be used by multiple wireless carriers as well as emergency services agencies.

While the Town Board has already filed the alienation application with the state, town attorney Adam Rodriguez said the filing is just a preliminary step in a “long process” that would only go forward if the state approves the alienation. Rodriguez said it is possible the state could deny the application.

Rodriguez acknowledged that the issues raised by the Granite Springs Road residents are important and said they will have an opportunity to address them further at a public hearing. The date of the hearing has yet to be set as the town awaits the state’s decision on the alienation.

For the alienation to be considered this year, the Town Board was under a time crunch as the legislative session is scheduled to end on June 6. According to Assemblyman (and former supervisor) Matt Slater, if the town didn’t apply this year, it would have had to wait until the end of the 2025 legislative session.

Supervisor Ed Lachterman said he will hold an informational hearing where he’ll ask Homeland Towers to speak about advances in technology that weren’t available in 2022 when the project first started. He said he is also looking for an independent expert to discuss the truth and myths of cell towers.

In the wake of the Town Board meeting, several Granite Springs Road residents sent an email to state senators Pete Harckham and Andrea Stewart-Cousins expressing their concerns.

“I encourage that,” Lachterman said of the email petitions sent to the senators. “It is part of the public process, and it is a very important aspect for all of us sitting on the board to hear. There is strength in numbers. In particular, it helps us to research their point of view and perspective. I have also had many people contact me regarding the safety issue of not having cell service and we are looking through their perspective as well.

“That is why I would like to have the informational meeting,” he added. “Of course, I will wait until the alienation goes through or is denied so we know where we are heading with the process.”

Back when Slater was serving as supervisor, a cell phone service survey was undertaken by CityScape Consultants to gather information about poor connectivity and dropped calls in town. The survey was intended to help town officials determine which types of cell towers were acceptable to the community.

The Northern Westchester County Draft Wireless Telecommunications Infrastructure Master Plan was created several years ago to look into “seamless wireless coverage throughout the region.” The seven towns it looked at include Yorktown, Somers, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge, Mount Kisco, North Salem, and New Castle. According to Slater, the plan identified the Granite Springs corridor as an area needing improved coverage.

Rodriguez said that if the alienation is approved by the state, the town will proceed with the lease and the site plan approval process.

“It was disappointing to learn that the town created its own rules for projects on town-owned property that exempts them from following the same process and codes that a private party would need to adhere to,” said Granite Springs Road resident Doug Erickson. “If alienation passes, we are considering all options.”