Concerned parents fight cell tower proposal
LOUDONVILLE -- North Colonie Central School District administrators are hearing harsh words from a group of parents and neighbors at Loudonville Elementary. The controversy comes over a proposed Verizon cell tower. If approved, the 60 foot tall tower would be placed 1100 feet from the school, on the property of Loudonville Presbyterian Church.
While the church stands to gain monthly payments from Verizon, some parents say those payments would come at the cost of their children's health and well being. During a meeting Tuesday night, parents shared their fears about the potentially harmful health effects of electromagnetic radiation.
The school district hasn't taken any official stand as far as supporting or objecting to a cell tower but in 2007, the school district gave the church permission to pursue a cell tower on the property. As a former owner of the church property, the school district still held certain legal rights to the land. That decision appears to have cost the school district its say in any future cell tower.
Colonie's town planning board will have the final vote to approve or reject plans for the cell tower.
School administrators described Tuesday night's openmeeting as a venue for hearing concerns from parents. The school district plans to share those concerns with Loudonville Presybterian during a meeting on Thursday, March 18th.
