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December 17, 2007

Northway cell towers plan advances

By KIM SMITH DEDAM

LAKE PLACID -- Emergency cell towers for Interstate 87 this winter are winding toward the planning table through multiple state agencies.

Independent Towers LLC of Albany discussed a plan with the New York Department of State two weeks ago listing three possible sites for temporary towers, according to Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury) spokesman Dan MacEntee.

"And DOS indicated they would work with Independent Towers LLC to develop a single-source contract."

Calls to Department of State officials in New York were not returned Monday.

MONEY HINGES ON OK

But Matt Anderson, spokesman for the State Division of Budget, said the $1 million set aside for temporary cell towers would only be spent on an approved final plan.

"We think there has been some confusion about this funding, and we'd like to clear that up. There is up to $1 million in the budget for temporary cell towers, but as of today, no one has applied to build them.

"If a company puts forward a plan, applies and they are approved (by APA), we will supply the funding."

Little has said the cost for installation of temporary towers -- called cells on wheels, or COWs -- at three sites would be less than half the $1 million earmark.

SITE SUGGESTIONS

Adirondack Park Agency Director of Regulatory Programs Mark Sengenberger told APA commissioners last Thursday that staff worked with Independent Towers to pinpoint sites that were compliant with the Adirondack Park Agency towers policy.

"In early fall, discussion began in earnest to locate temporary towers on private lands in proximity to the Northway corridor," the APA commissioners reiterated in a recent statement.

"Agency staff advised them that all three sites appeared to be approvable" and offered the following advice:

Exit 29: A temporary tower in hamlet land-use area (parking lot for old Frontier Town amusement park) under 40 feet in height would be non-jurisdictional, thus requiring no APA review.

North Hudson: A new tower on the west side of Route 9 would require a permit application. Staff indicated that the site potentially complies with the towers policy and invited Independent Towers to submit an application.

Lewis: A new tower between exits 32 and 33, south of Deerhead-Reber Road, on the west side of Route 9. Staff advised that the site is potentially compliant with the towers policy and invited Independent Towers to submit an application.

PUBLIC SAFETY SITE

A fourth possible site for co-location of a temporary cell tower, to cover about a mile of the Adirondack Northway in Lewis, would be on the Essex County Public Safety Building. That site qualifies for a general permit from the APA.

"On Dec. 10, staff also advised that co-location on the Essex County Public Safety Building could be eligible for a general permit," APA officials said.

On Monday, the Essex County Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval for use of the Public Safety Building in Lewis for six months for temporary cell antennas.

A general permit, the APA statement said, requires the applicant to provide application materials to determine "no undue adverse impact and substantial invisibility" but does not require a 15-day public-notice period or approval by APA commissioners.

"This would eliminate four to six weeks from the approval process," the APA said.

kdedam@pressrepublican.com

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