T-Mobile halts Lake Ronkonkoma tower

T-Mobile will cease construction of a 149-foot tower and antenna in Lake Ronkonkoma and consider new locations for the equipment, representatives from the communications giant Wednesday told residents who have criticized the firm for its handling of the construction.

Several residents have for weeks said they have gotten little information about the proposed tower, which was being built by T-Mobile on a Long Island Power Authority right-of-way on 11th Street west of Bay Avenue.

Many of the concerns center on the location of the work, which is taking place about 50 feet from some homes. Some residents have also complained of work crews leaving heavy equipment on the sidewalk, not far from a school bus stop, while others have said the equipment will hurt the value of their homes.

But T-Mobile representatives pledged Wednesday to halt work -- which had been on hold for about a month -- until the firm considered other potential sites, such as nearby industrial areas. And Councilman Tim Mazzei, who represents the area, said he would propose a law that would ensure greater community participation the next time a similar project arose.

Residents said after yesterday's meeting that they were heartened that T-Mobile would consider alternatives, but they wouldn't be satisfied until the tower plan was dead.

"For right now this is a positive development, to know that T-Mobile is willing to consider alternatives," said Jamie Mare, who lives in the area.

T-Mobile intends to reconstruct an existing 130-foot tower and place a 19-foot transmission antenna on top of it, company officials said.

T-Mobile representatives maintain that a new antenna is necessary to improve coverage.

"There is a significant coverage gap as exists today in terms of reliable coverage," said Eric Engen, T-Mobile's senior development manager for Long Island.

The complaints have been going on for several weeks. A group of residents held a street-corner protest of the tower project last month.

Resident Louis DeMaio, who lives in the area and did not attend Wednesday's meeting, said it was hypocritical of the town not to try to block the tower.

"They put homeowners through the wringer if you want to put a shed up on your" property, he said. "I don't think it's the right thing for them to be sticking this massive of a tower right in a residential area."