THOMPSON — The controversial cell tower project in Rock Hill was back on the agenda at the Thompson Planning Board on June 12.

Instead of a site review plan, the planning board this time voted on approving a “shot clock” extension for a communications towers proposed by Tarpon Towers, LLC, and Verizon near Wanaksink Lake.

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a “shot clock” extension can be used if the applicant feels a local government body is not moving fast enough on the application process.

The “shot clock” was extended until August 14, which will give time for the Thompson Planning Board to review and discuss the site plan again.

If the planning board by that time does not approve the application, according to the FCC, “applicants may file a claim for relief in court within 30 days of the failure to act. The court will then decide what action to take based on all the facts of the case.”

Tarpon is looking for approval to construct a 184-foot wireless communications tower on a private lakefront property on Wanaksink Lake.

Residents of the private lake are opposed to the construction, citing adverse impacts to the natural beauty of the lake. They feel the cell tower company has not done their part in finding another site.

Wanaksink residents packed Thompson Planning Board meeting on June 12 once again after learning it will be on the agenda.

“We are going to be at every meeting,” said Wanaksink Lake resident Judy King.

Lake residents are not sitting idle, as the association has hired legal counsel, Andrew J. Campanelli, and Radio Frequency (RF), Engineer, Richard Comi of Center for Municipal Solutions.

Campanelli— representing 40 plus residents of Wanaksink Lake— sent a "Memorandum in Opposition" to the planning board against the Tarpon Tower's special use permit and its site plan approval.

According to the opposition, the project “would violate both the requirements under the zoning code and legislative intent based upon requirements enacted by the town.”

King, along with other residents, feel that the “shot clock” will give the opportunity to Tarpon Towers and Verizon to “shoot holes” in their opposition research to the cell tower.

“We came up with an alternative site, and we want them to come up with sites as well.”

Alternate Sites

King said the alternative sites Tarpon had presented were not adequately vetted.

As previously reported in the Democrat, Crystal Run Healthcare and Emerald Green were two potential sites for the cell tower, but according to Verizon, they [site owners] have declined.

However, according to Hal Teitelbaum, CEO and Managing Partner of Crystal Run Healthcare, in 2017, they were in talks with Verizon, but ultimately they declined the site.

Teitelbaum said Crystal Run would again be willing to consider a tower at their Rock Hill location.

Emerald Green Property Owners Association and Emerald Green Lake Louise Marie Water Company—another potential site Verizon said was vetted—was never contacted according to General Manager Michael Hyot, who is also a member of the Thompson Planning Board.

County Legislator Alan J. Sorensen wrote to the Thompson Planning Board calling the applicant's analysis of alternative sites “half-hearted.”

Sorensen also stated that the planning board—under counsel—only reviewed the Calcam site at the most recent site review of the project.

Not thoroughly vetting other sites at that time, Sorensen said it ignored the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requirements.

“The siting of the cell tower on this site is subject to the SEQRA process, and potentially significant adverse environmental impacts (in this case visual) must be mitigated through changes in project design, location of the tower, or exploring the use of other technologies used by Verizon to close the gap in coverage,” said Sorensen.

Furthermore, in a letter to the planning board, Wanaksink's hired RF Engineer Richard Comi said that alternative sites should be considered since —in his professional opinion— “they would accomplish coverage goals for the tower.”

The Democrat reached out to Tarpon Towers LLC for comment but did not hear back by press time on Monday.

"We are prepared to fight in court,” said King. “We don't want to do that, but we love our lake.”