Assemblywoman Margaret Markey and Maspeth residents continue to oppose a proposal to install a cell phone transmitter on a residential block in their neighborhood.
Their views were repeated in testimony submitted by the Assemblywoman and expressed by several residents and community leaders at a November 18 public hearing in Manhattan. The application before the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) by Omnipoint Communications (T-Mobile) seeks a Special Permit to erect a 4-to-5 story high transmitter on top of the house at 53-20 72nd Place, a block of one and two family homes.
Assemblywoman Markey said, “After four postponements, Omnipoint has returned to the BSA with an amended proposal that does not appear to be more acceptable than the original one. Even though this revised plan is somewhat lower, it will still have the same negative impact on the community and I will continue to oppose it.”
At the first hearing on this application on January 29, the Assemblywoman, community leaders and local residents packed the room to tell BSA commissioners of their unanimous opposition to the plan, which called for a 56 foot high structure. After four delays in returning to the commission with answers to questions raised by the public and the commissioners, Omnipoint proposed a modified plan to reduce the height of the tower by 9.5 feet. A new hearing has been set for the revised plan for Tuesday, December 16 in Manhattan.
In testimony for the November 18th hearing, Assemblywoman Markey questioned whether Omnipoint had made a “good faith effort” to look at alternate sites for the tower, and asked BSA to consider whether or not there is a valid service need for it at this location at all.
In asking the Board of Standards and Appeals to deny the application, she said, “Those who live in Maspeth cherish the peace and tranquility of our neighborhood and are constantly at work to maintain and improve it. The location of this proposed transmitter is totally inappropriate and the modification of height that is now proposed does nothing to change that.”
To view a full copy of testimony Assemblywoman Markey submitted to the commission on November 18, 2009, please click here.
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