Possible Verizon Cell Tower Discussed at Massapequa Park Village Board Meeting

The tricky topic of cell phone towers was high on the agenda at this week's Massapequa village board meeting, as board members wrestled with the possibility of a new Verizon cell tower on Sunrise Highway.

Massapequa Park has a history of clashes with cell phone companies, who aren't always bound by local laws, trying to install their equipment in the Village. According to Massapequa Park mayor James Altadonna, the proposed cell tower site proposed by the Village is their way of beating cell companies to the punch.

"With cell towers out here, we don't really control our own destiny. What we're trying to do is have a site location to avoid all the issues that come up, like these small antennas in front of people's houses," he said, referring to last winter's controversy involving NextG.

"We have a pretty stringent cell tower law here, and we've been pretty successful in directing the companies as to where they should and shouldn't be."

An early location has been looked into, with the main criteria regarding its placement being that it is not invasive to the local community.

"First of all, there is no tower going today," Altadonna said. "If it would go, it would be on the same side of Sunrise Highway as our Veteran's Memorial, on that side of the [] train station, all the way at the end of that parking lot."

Another major topic at the meeting was the total re-paving of Philadelphia Avenue between Euclid Avenue and Pittsburg Avenue, which includes the street, curbs, gutters, and, if needed, sidewalks.

Altadonna said that this particular project has been a long time in coming.

"We're going to re-construct the road," he said. "We're going to go in, take all of the blacktop up, we're going to do all new gratings, all new levelings, pitch it towards the catch basins...we're basically starting the road from scratch, sidewalks, curbs, and everything."

However, sidewalks, which are the responsibility of the individual property owner and not the Village, will only be replaced if needed. Otherwise, the work will be done at no cost to residents.

"If your sidewalk is okay, it will stay in place," Altadonna said. "If there's a grade change and we have to rip it up, we will replace it at no cost. But if there are broken slabs, or if any of you wish to get your sidewalks done, it's advantageous to get it done at that point, as you’ll get a better price from our contractor."

Altadonna also pointed out that any damage done to the property of residents during construction will be covered by the Village. In addition, any trees that need to be removed will be replaced. Letters will be sent out to residents soon that will outline the full details of the construction, including start and completion dates.

While a final start date has yet to be determined, the Village estimates construction will begin within four weeks. Assurances were given to residents present at the meeting that every effort will be made to ensure they will be able to safely get to and from their homes every day while work is being done.