Vote clears way for cell phone antennas

The Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals approved a height variance to allow installation of cell phone antennas in a cupola above an East Northport store - two days after the town board approved a three-month moratorium on cell towers.

T-Mobile Northeast Llc requested the special-use permit to install wireless communication antennas and equipment on the roof of a store at Fort Salonga Road and Kathy Court. The zoning board's unanimous action Thursday night will allow the existing cupola to be raised five feet to accommodate the equipment.

On Tuesday, a three-month moratorium on granting permits to construct wireless communication facilities, transmission and reception antennas and towers was approved 4-1 by the Huntington Town Board. Town officials will look at making changes in the current code during the moratorium. Publicly owned properties and hardship cases are exempt.

However, pending applications may be approved because the law will not take effect until the paperwork is filed with the secretary of state.

Town attorney John Leo said the paperwork had not been received in Albany by Friday morning.

"We sent this one up relatively quickly because it was a moratorium but it didn't get up there yet," Leo said. "So it's not effective."

Town board member Susan Berland, who voted against the moratorium because it excluded public properties, said she did not want to speak to the legality of the zoning board of appeals vote, but that the intention of the town board's moratorium was "crystal clear."

"I think we should have a full moratorium until we can reassess the legislation that allows them in the first place," Berland said.