By Nathan Duke
11/29/2007
Maspeth residents said they were still concerned about the construction of a 27-foot cell phone radio tower on top of a residential home on 72nd Place despite the fact that Community Board 5 unanimously voted against the proposal last week.
Juniper Park Civic Association President Robert Holden said the Board of Standards and Appeals, the city body that has jurisdiction on this matter, has ignored community concerns before.
"The BSA rarely sees a variance they don't like," he said. "We've seen instances where the community board and the borough president voted against a proposal, but it still went through. They don't take into account the community's feelings."
The BSA protects the city's ability to regulate development on private property.
A spokesman for state Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Maspeth) said she has called on the BSA to deny a permit application for the tower. In the meantime, residents have circulated a petition against the cell phone tower that has collected nearly 1,000 signatures, according to CB 5 member Manny Caruana.
The tower, which was also going to serve as a flag pole, was to be built on a home at 53-20 72nd Place, which adjoins Maspeth eatery Frank's Deli. In mid-November, CB 5 voted 36-0 against the plan, which was made between Omnipoint Communications and deli owner Joseph Wroblewski, said Gary Giordano, the board's chairman.
Residents said they were concerned that the structure would be out of character with the neighborhood and that dangers were posed by the tower's height and potential radiation emissions. They also said they were upset that the phone company was using the argument that local residents needed better cell phone reception.
"I think it's despicable that they are wrapping themselves around the American flag and acting like they are providing a service like a public utility when they are not regulated in any way," said Caruana. "And once you allow something to go up that's beyond the as-of-right in the community, what's to stop other people from adding variances on their homes?"
Omnipoint Communications could not be reached for comment.
Wroblewski said he thought most of the controversy about the tower has blown over. But he said he understood why the community gave him flak about locating the structure at 72nd Place.
"It's not really a good thing for them, so I understand why they don't want it," he said. "They are trying to move it to a commercial site. We're trying to get it moved to please the neighborhood."
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
©Times Ledger 2007
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