For Immediate Release: December 11, 2008
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY – The Adirondack Park Agency (APA), working in partnership with the telecommunication companies, approved 17 cellular projects in 2008. Since 1973, the Agency has issued 67 new cellular carrier permits authorizing 73 activities.
Cellular coverage inside the Adirondack Park continues to improve as telecommunication companies successfully secure permit approvals for key highway corridors and population centers.
In 2008, the Agency issued six permits for new towers, nine general permits for co-location on existing structures and two permit amendments to replace/co-locate antennas.
“The Park Agency would like to commend the cellular companies for their efforts to conscientiously select project sites that adhere to the Agency’s Towers Policy. The success we are experiencing proves it’s possible to implement cellular technology without adversely impacting the unique scenic appeal of the Adirondacks, which is fundamentally critical in sustaining many sectors of our economy,” stated APA Chairman Curtis F. Stiles.
The Agency’s Towers Policy, revised in August of 2000, discourages mountaintop towers and promotes the co-location of facilities on existing structures. The policy is intended to protect the Adirondack Park’s aesthetic and open space resources by requiring telecommunication tower sites achieve substantial invisible. The natural scenic character of the Adirondack Park is the foundation of the quality of life and economy of the region, long recognized as a uniquely special and valuable State and National treasure.
The policy also recognizes the importance for telecommunications and other technologies in support of the needs of local residents, the visiting public and the Park’s economic sector. The policy includes guidance for telecommunication companies to ensure successful implementation of projects.
Guidance includes: avoiding locating facilities on mountaintops and ridge lines; concealing any structure by careful siting, using a topographic or vegetative foreground or backdrop; minimizing structure height and bulk; using color to blend with surroundings; and using existing buildings to locate facilities whenever possible.
Verizon Wireless’ exit 29 tower located within one mile of the Northway in the Town of North Hudson, Essex County, is an excellent example of achieving substantial invisibility. The project includes the construction of an 84-foot telecommunications tower with a 12-panel antenna array (four 8-foot panels on each of three sides of the array) and a 10-foot high lightning rod attached to the top of the tower. The overall height of the approved tower is 94 feet. This tower provides coverage in a north and south direction from exit 29 along the corridor.
The Agency approved the tower based on its minimal impacts and high level of substantial invisibility. This site is completely back dropped by wooded hills. The tower height is nearly equal to the surrounding vegetation and the foreground includes tall trees to help blend the tower into the landscape. Verizon used dark gray paint tones to further conceal the tower. This type of effort allows for the integration of telecommunication technology without adversely impacting the scenic appeal of the Adirondack Park or dramatically altering community character.
Overall in 2008, Verizon Wireless was issued five permits for new towers and one general permit to co-locate antennas on an existing smokestack.
T-Mobile received eight general permit approvals to co-locate antennas; five were issued to co-locate on free standing towers along the Northway, one co-location on a water tank, one co-location on the Olympic ski jump in North Elba and one replacement and co-location.
AT&T secured one permit to construct a new tower, one general permit to co-locate on an existing tower and one permit amendment to replace antennas on an existing tower.
Independent Towers, LLC secured the first permit to construct a new tower designed to accommodate multiple carriers. AT&T and T-Mobile will provide service from this tower which is located between exit 32 and 33 in the Town of Lewis, Essex County. There is additional space for two more cellular carriers.
Significant progress was also made closing the coverage gap along Interstate 87. The Agency issued 12 permits for cellular projects between exit 23 and exit 34. Six general permits were issued that authorized the co-location of antennas on free- standing towers. Currently, five additional proposals for cellular coverage on the Northway are pending approval. Once approved and pending towers are constructed, coverage along the Northway through the Park will be greatly improved without diminishing the uniqueness of this travel corridor.
In 2008, the Agency approved cellular projects in Clinton, Essex, St. Lawrence and Warren Counties. The Agency did not deny any telecommunication projects in 2008 or since its inception.
17 Permits/Amendments Issued in 2008:
By permitted activity:
6 New Towers
•2 in the Town of Lewis (I-87, between exits 31 & 33)
•1 in the Town of Chesterfield (I-87, between exits 32 & 33)
•1 in the Town of Schroon (I-87, between exits 27 & 28)
•1 in the Towns of Lake George/Warrensburg (I-87, between exits 22 & 23)
•1 in the Town of Keene, Hamlet of Keene
9 Co-location of Antennas
•1 in the Town of North Elba
•1 in the Town of Schroon (I-87, between exits 28 & 29)
•1 in the Town of Chester (I-87, between exits 24 & 25)
•1 in the Town of Warrensburg (I-87, between exits 21 & 22)
•1 in the Town of Lewis (I-87, between exits 32 & 33)
•1 in the Town of of Peru (I-87, between exits 34 & 35)
•1 in the Town of Fine
•1 in the Town of Ausable
•1 in the Town of Saranac
1 Replacement of Antennas
•1 in the Town of Moriah
1 Both Replacement & Co-location of Antennas
•1 in the Town of Westport (I-87, between exits 31 & 32)
By cellular carrier:
3 AT&T
•1 new tower
•1 co-location of antennas (on tower)
•1 replacement of antennas
8 T-mobile
7 Co-locations of Antennas
•5 on free standing towers
•1 on a water tank
•1 on a ski jump
1 Replacement & Co-location of Antennas
6 Verizon Wireless
•5 new towers
•1 co-location of antennas (on smokestack)
8 Permits/Amendments pending:
Pending by permit activity:
7 new towers
•1 in Town of Wells (SW of Wells)
•1 in Town of Lewis (I-87, between exits 32 & 33)
•2 in Town of North Hudson (I-87, exit 30)
•1 in Town of Brighton (Paul Smiths)
•1 in Town of Westport (I-87 exit 31)
•1 in Town of Schroon (I-87 exit 27)
1 Replacement and Co-location of Antennas
•1 in Town of Schroon (I-87 exit 28, Schroon Lake)
Pending by cellular carrier:
6 Verizon Wireless
•5 new towers
•1 replacement and co-location of antennas
2 T-mobile
•2 new towers
Cellular carrier activity May 1973 through present:
67 new cellular carrier permits issued auhorizing 73 activities:
•12 new free standing towers
•15 tower and/or antenna replacements
•24 co-locations on existing free standing towers
•6 co-locations on existing buildings
•7 co-locations on existing water tanks
•3 co-locations on existing fire towers
•3 co-locations on existing Olympic ski jump
•2 co-location on existing smokestacks
•1 temporary tower (Town of Mayfield, Fulton County)
22 cellular carrier permit amendments issued authorizing 22 activities:
•11 tower and/or antenna replacements
•8 co-locations on existing free standing towers
•2 co-locations on existing fire towers
•1 co-location on existing Olympic ski jump
The New York State Adirondack Park Agency was created in 1971 by the State Legislature to develop long-range land use plans for both public and private lands within the boundary of the Adirondack Park. With its headquarters located in Ray Brook, the Agency also operates two Visitor Interpretive Centers, in Newcomb and Paul Smiths. For more information, call the APA at (518) 891-4050 or visit www.apa.state.ny.us.
Please see attachments:
Photo 1 – North Hudson Verizon Tower from Northway overpass
Photo 2 – North Hudson Verizon Tower from Blue Ridge Road
Photo 3 – Fort Ann Nextel Simulated Tree Tower
