Residents back Huntington moratorium plan

Huntington residents have voiced support for the town board's proposal to enact a 90-day moratorium on granting permits to construct wireless communication facilities and transmission and reception antenna and towers.

During the moratorium the town would examine current code and see where it could be changed, including where and how cell towers are placed, the actual structures as well as the approval process.

"We initially said we were going to modify the code and as we looked at other towns and municipalities and saw some of the unique ideas, we realized it's going to take a little time," town Supervisor Frank Petrone said. "Cell towers have now become recognized structures and it's time to regulate them a little more closely. It's needed."

At a public hearing Tuesday night, about a dozen residents told the board they were pleased the board was considering the action because of concerns about emissions, the number of cell towers and how they look.

Alissa Sue Taff, president of the Civic Association of Sweet Hollow Inc., supports the moratorium but is concerned that certain code exemptions - one for hardship cases and the other for town-owned properties - might result in loopholes.

"There is hardly a not-for-profit facility, religious institution or school that is not facing declining funding from dues, membership or fundraising," Taff said. "Exempting these organizations from scrutiny of the code is a disservice to the community."

Petrone said the vote on the moratorium could come next month.

Also at the meeting, the board voted 3-2 to change the zoning for an 18.6-acre property located at 1130 W. Jericho Tpke. in West Hills that straddles the towns of Huntington and Oyster Bay.

The approval allows the property to go from a residential district to a retirement community district.

Kensington Estates, a 55-and-over community that will consist of 80 town homes and three private homes, is being planned for the site. The portion that is located in Huntington will have about six affordable units, according to plans for the construction.

The developer, Triangle Equities, must now apply for site plan approval in Huntington and get zoning approval in the town of Oyster Bay.

Phyllis Barry, town of Oyster Bay spokeswoman, said the change would be from 1-acre family residential to multifamily residential.

Petrone and town board member Mark Cuthbertson voted against the approval.