North Bellmore cell tower plan called off

State officials have killed a proposed 120-foot North Bellmore cell tower that drew opposition from nearby residents and Hempstead Town officials.

"This conceptual proposal will not be further developed at this time," Jacqueline Phillips Murray, the attorney for Crown Communication New York Inc., the state's telecommunications site manager, wrote last week in a letter to state Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick), which Newsday obtained Monday.

Crown last summer proposed placing a 50-by-65-foot structure on the south side of the Southern State Parkway adjacent to South Bismark Avenue and Bellmore Road. The proposed tower was to provide signals for five wireless companies and local public safety agencies.

About 100 neighbors of the site spoke against it during a February public hearing. They said they feared building a large tower would change the character of the neighborhood, reduce property values, cause environmental damage and pose health risks.

Murray cited the "review of current user interest in the proposed facility" in her letter announcing the plan's demise. She did not return messages Monday.

Hempstead Town in September enacted legislation forbidding cell antennas within 1,500 feet of certain facilities, but it does not have jurisdiction over state land and the ban would not have affected the project.

"The State Parks Department's decision not to place a cell tower on South Bismark Avenue is the right one," Town Supervisor Kate Murray said in a news release. "This is truly a victory for North Bellmore neighbors."