Impacts
Impacts to Property Values
Do you want to live under a cell tower or see it every day from your home or a business you patronize? The answer is no - no one looks at a cell tower and says I wish I could look at that all day or sit under one. Cell towers have an impact on property values - this is why it’s included in our town code and why Yorktown Heights rejected a Verizon cell tower in their community in recent months. The Town of Rochester must do the same or be sued by the residents to follow the town’s code, which is the local law of the land.
Impacts to Our Viewshed
The proposed Verizon cell tower on Granite Road would be visible from the Shawangunk Mountain Scenic Byway which includes from Route 209, multiple scenic overlooks on Route 44/55 and from the Minnewaska State Park visitors center and from many private properties.
A balloon test was conducted in April 2025 where a crane hoists up a red balloon to the approximate footage of the cell tower and photographs are taken from various locations to see how visible the cell tower will be. In the case of this cell tower - it was visible from throughout our world class viewshed that both residents and visitors alike enjoy. It is also our viewshed that powers much of our local tourist economy - all of this has been raised with the Planning Board with a dedicated group of local residents from the neighborhood where the tower is proposed but now more people need to raise our voices in opposition. The beautiful views are what make living and visiting here so special.
The aesthetic to the viewshed is one of the main reasons that there needs to be a full environmental impact study under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). It is also one of the main reasons that the tower can be denied. Unfortunately, the Planning Board has instead tried to cut a deal with Verizon to lessen the 145 foot tower to 125 feet. Yet these 20 feet will not significantly lessen the impacts to our viewshed nor will they stop the tower from being raised another 20 feet at a future date. Under a federal law called the Spectrum Act Section 6409 state and local governments are forbidden to deny requests from cell phone and cell tower corporations to modify wireless equipment including raising the height of existing cell towers up to 20 feet. If the cell tower is built on Granite Road, there is nothing that can be done to stop it from being raised 20 feet. Therefore this “compromise” the board says it’s reached is nothing but a red herring.
Impacts to Wildlife and Plants
While the 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act does not explicitly state that impacts to wildlife and plants can not be considered, the Planning Boards’ attorney has convinced the Board to dismiss wildlife and plants. There are many studies that prove that wildlife and plants are negatively affected by cell tower RF radiation. There are thousands of studies that show harm to biological life from RF radiation. Sadly, but an important fact, many of those studies are performed on animals. Therefore animals are certainly negatively affected by RF radiation.
The Planning Board was going to hire a local and well respected wildlife expert from Hudsonia to go to the property and study the wildlife and plants. There was a great deal of discussion amongst the Board members about this over email. Then suddenly, the Board changed course and decided not to hire Hudsonia. It is possible that Verizon objected to the Board hiring Hudsonia and that is why the Board caved and instead the Board is relying on the “expertise” of an industry “wildlife” company that works for Verizon from Texas.
Impacts to Public Health & Safety
The 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act prohibits public health and safety to be considered in the decisionmaking for a cell tower. This is unfortunate since the law is from 30 years ago. Studies show that living near a cell tower is harmful. (See resources page)
There are also currently no setback limits, which allows for the proposed Verizon cell tower on Granite Road to be located only 147 feet from an apartment complex. New cell towers are being built with 5G and 4G. 5G requires more towers since the frequencies are stronger and can only travel shorter lengths of distance.
While the Town of Rochester cannot vote against the cell tower because of public health risks, they must privately recognize the facts that cell tower RF radiation negatively impacts public health and the environment. Even without health and the environment they have many justified legal reasons to vote against this tower.