BC News

Cell tower explorations at an early stage of lengthy review process
Release Date: Sept. 17, 2009

Last year, as the district grappled with the impact of the unfolding financial crisis on its budget, it stepped up its search for outside revenue sources to help alleviate the property tax burden.

One of the ideas that came along was the prospect of leasing some district-owned land to a firm that develops communications towers and rents space on them to cell phone carriers. Investigating this possibility is at a very preliminary stage, according to district officials.

On May 20, 2009, at a public meeting of the Board of Education, the Board selected Independent Towers LLC as a consultant to help guide it through the process of exploring the potential for a tower on district property and, if the Board moves forward, of formally securing the necessary land use approvals.

At this early phase, Independent Towers has identified three sites in the district that warrant further exploration — areas on the properties of Clarksville Elementary School, Hamagrael Elementary School and the adjoining Bethlehem Central High School and district Operations and Maintenance department properties.

This fall, Independent Towers is expected to formally file applications with the towns of Bethlehem (Hamagrael and BCHS/Operations and Maintenance site) and New Scotland (Clarksville) to formally begin the review process.

The review process will include numerous opportunities for public input at both the town and school levels, including public hearings, public comment periods and information sessions.

“At this point, we are very early on in our investigations of whether or not this is even feasible and if it is something we want to move forward with,” Superintendent Michael Tebbano said. “The purpose of filing the applications is so that we can enter a process that calls for ample and appropriate scrutiny of this issue, including substantive community participation”

“Given the shape of the economy and the desire for property tax restraint, I do feel it is incumbent upon the district leaders to at least explore potential avenues of non-tax revenue, and that is what we are doing at this time,” the superintendent added.

The review process for projects like this can last up to a year or longer.

Dr. Tebbano said that the district will be using the Web site and local media outlets to keep residents informed along the way, particularly when opportunities for public input arise.

 

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