Letters

I am still flabbergasted from the cell tower meeting at Village Hall [“North Haven To Explore Cellular Options,” 27east.com, April 15].

When I moved to North Haven, I removed some trees that posed a serious safety risk to my house and my family. The local village SWAT team descended upon my house, presented me with written violations, and a visit ensued from the Department of Environmental Conservation. I got the message.

The land that would be destroyed by this proposed tower is between Lovelady Park and Village Hall. Lovelady Park is a success. There were some heated debates around preserving the native growth, but the end result is a success. Village Hall speaks for itself.

Why capitulate to a money grab by cell carriers and the village, and cram an absolute monstrosity of a cell tower into this area that will most certainly destroy a football field-sized piece of land? What about those concerns about native growth, trees, flora and fauna? We have stringent restrictions around building near wetlands and removing any trees over a certain size, yet this abomination of a tower is considered a viable solution, yet doesn’t even provide full cell coverage to North Haven?

Who is responsible to protect our environment from this needless destruction of conservation land? Who has a true idea of the best way to pursue a solution — CityScape? The trustees?

The “survey” they offered was simply a manipulation of the responses, pure and simple. There were only 157 responses, with every question leading to an answer that was deigned to be an accurate evaluation but was misleading at best. What role does CityScape actually play with the cell carriers, which all stand to gain significant revenue from a 150-foot tower? Does CityScape receive compensation from the cell carriers, or does it end with the completion of this “study” and they are an altruistic bystander from this date forward? Where is the environmental impact study?

Starlink satellite technology was leveraged with resounding success last fall to restore full cell coverage from the disastrous effects of Hurricane Helene. Immediately. This satellite technology will only improve moving forward.

We have all experienced yearly improvements in cell coverage locally. Cellular technology and the affiliated equipment is improving daily. Let the cell carriers do what they must to improve coverage for health and safety reasons.

Why can’t we come together to help our residents who are challenged with poor service and leverage the technology that already exists? Once our environment is destroyed, it is destroyed forever. “Measure twice but cut only once” certainly seems like a more appropriate course of action here, not fear, capitulation, confusion and a complete money grab.

Billy Caan

North Haven