Baxter Estates 'Cells' Out

The Village of Baxter Estates' Board of Trustees adopted two resolutions at Thursday night's monthly meeting that will grant a special exception permit to T-Mobile and enable the installation of wireless antennas on the roof of a building located at 299 Main St., on the corner of Main Street and Shore Road. 

"We want it up and running," T-Mobile attorney Adam Walsh said, "because every day it's not impacts the construction schedule."

Over the past few months, community opposition to the antennas remained strong because of potential environmental and health issues as well as aesthetic concerns. "We are very disappointed with this decision," said Nancy Curtin, Executive Director of the Port Washington Public Library, which is within a a block of the proposed site. "It was our hope that another location could be found that wouldn't alter this historic streetscape."

Several public hearings were held recently and many residents expressed their opinions on the T-Mobile antennas, but just three Baxter Estates residents attended last night's meeting — and all were there to discuss other issues.

Trustee Alice Peckelis said that the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 supersedes what can be done at the village level to prohibit installation regardless of community or personal feelings about the "health, welfare and safety" of constituents. "I feel that as a local official my fiduciary responsibilities are cut out from under me," she said. "Any group that really wants to create change must do so at the federal level because our local government is cut off at the knees."

In spite of its inability to prevent the antennas from being installed, the village requested, and received, a visual barricade that will disguise them. In regard to agreeing to tighter language in the construction and surety bonds needed to move forward with the project, T-Mobile representatives said they believe the village "pushed us pretty far."

Mayor Fred Nicholson said that granting the special use permit potentially saved the village from being part of a lengthy lawsuit. Nicholson summarized, "We have taken into consideration the public's view and in conjunction with legal advice, have put forth the necessary measures to make sure T-Mobile remains fully compliant with federal guidelines."