Negotiations: Putting the Cart Before the Horse
In New York, the engineering study and the Environmental Assessment (SEQRA) are supposed to happen before the board starts negotiating a 30-year lease for a cell tower on public land. Doing it in reverse—negotiating the deal first and ‘checking the box’ later—diminishes the concerns of residents and can lead to an expensive lawsuit.
Although board members claimed that negotiations have not taken place, water board minutes from as far back as August 2025 indicate they have.
THE REALITY OF THE “TOWER”:
This isn’t just a small pole. It is a 110-foot lattice tower – a massive steel structure designed to hold multiple carriers.
The Town of Wappinger enforces a 750-foot safety setback to protect its residents; why does the board seem so eager to let a tower company build one right next to village homes with almost no protection?
THE UNANNOUNCED CELL TOWER MEETING
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the board held an informational meeting, providing an opportunity for the public to ask questions of a representative from Homeland Towers regarding the proposed cell tower. However, the board did not inform the public about the meeting. Residents took to social media to alert the community about this alleged “public” meeting. The meeting room was crowded with residents who voiced concerns related to health implications and property values. The Wappingers Falls Historical Society highlighted the historical significance of the 1915 water tower.
What the board had anticipated would be a poorly attended procedural meeting transformed into a pivotal moment, underscoring to the board that the village residents expect their voices to be acknowledged when decision-making involves significant community issues. For now, the planned cell tower seems to be slowed so that proper studies and the voices of residents can be considered.