The Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning and Appeals (BZA) will hear an application next month from Omnipoint, a wireless cellular phone company, to erect a 65-foot high light pole for cellular six antennas and equipment cabinets on the ground in Franklin Square. The proposed pole, which the application calls a "stealth light pole," would be installed on the west side of Dogwood Avenue, north of Cornell Road running through to Ribbon Street.

The application is expected to be heard by the town BZA on September 28 at Hempstead Town Hall at 12:30 p.m. The hearing was originally scheduled for June 21. However, it was postponed.

One elected official who is taking a stand against the cell tower is New York State Assemblyman Tom Alfano, who said, "I really wonder if the planners at that company want to see something like that in their neighborhood."

Although no municipalities welcome cell antennas or towers in their neighborhoods, the Town of Hempstead, like all other municipalities, may find its hands tied since the 1996 Telecommunication Act gives the federal government jurisdiction over the wireless carriers. However, the town may have a case if it can show evidence that the tower would affect property values in the area.

One municipality, the Village of Mineola, had its share of cell phone antenna applications. However, the village board passed a law, which prohibits the erection of structures such as a pole. Therefore, any cell phone company that wants to put antennas in Mineola has to put them on an existing structure unless the applicant receives a special use permit.

The Village of Mineola's code states that: No antenna or tower shall hereafter be used, erected, changed or altered except after obtaining a special use permit in conformity with this local law; the Village of Mineola Board of Trustees is hereby authorized to review and approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove special use permits pursuant to this local law. The board of trustees shall have the authority to impose such reasonable conditions and restrictions as are directly related to and incidental to the proposed antenna, tower and accessory structures.

In order to obtain a special use permit to erect a structure in Mineola, the cellular phone carrier must provide an affidavit attesting to the fact that the applicant made diligent, but unsuccessful, efforts to install or collocate the applicant's telecommunications facilities on towers or usable antenna support structures owned by other persons located within a one-half (1/2) mile radius of the proposed tower site.

Alfano wonders if another site may be more appropriate. "I want to know why this area was chosen and what other alternatives were researched before this application was made," he said.

According to the Assemblyman's office, he has received over 100 phone calls and visits from Franklin Square residents on the application. He said he would work with the town's BZA to see if the tower can be placed away from the Morton Avenue, Dogwood Park and John Street communities.

"My office will be working with the community on this quality of life issue and I encourage everyone to step up and send a message to the BZA that this site is unacceptable to the community," Alfano said.