The Planning Board claims that there is no cell service in the Springs. But they ignore these facts: a 180-foot tower at Camp Blue Bay and a 70-foot tower at St. Peter’s Chapel went live in 2024. The Camp Blue Bay tower is just 0.9 mile from Elite’s tower and the St. Peter’s Chapel tower is just 2 miles from Elite’s tower. The Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) National Broadband Map certifies that there is now excellent coverage in the Springs. We know the FCC National Broadband Map is accurate because we live here, and we know we have cell service everywhere in the Springs.

• Cell towers are a necessary evil. We already have 10 in Springs. But NO practical purpose is served by legalizing Elite’s tower except to ransack our bucolic, historic Springs hamlet.

• The Planning Board also disregards the fact that at this very moment, nearly 200 “micro-antenna” (2-3 feet high) are being mounted in Springs and Northwest Woods on top of telephone poles along roadsides to close any gaps that remain due to topographical challenges: brick buildings, dense tree clusters, etc.

o   While Elite initially proposed that this tower would only be used for emergency services, a close reading of the record shows that their real objective was to use the tower to sell cell phone service to the public. Truth be told, this tower is a money-making venture for both Elite and the Fire Department. Of course, we have enormous gratitude for the selfless and brave firefighters who risk their lives to save our own. But the cost of the fire engines and related equipment and of maintaining their building and property are paid for by our property taxes. The revenues from Elite Tower’s lease payments to the Fire Department are not needed to provide us with our fire protection services.

o   The Planning Board has failed to address what, if any, improvements are needed to the Fire Department’s and first responders’ emergency communications, much less if a 150-foot tower is needed to do so. Nor has the Planning Board calculated the height of any tower necessary to improve emergency RF transmissions or if such improvement could be made by co-locating on the Camp Blue Bay and/or St. Peter’s Chapel towers or on other towers in Springs.

o   According to Elite’s application, the lowest tier on its tower from which 4 wireless carriers will broadcast will be from 70 feet above grade, a far cry from 150-feet high. If the Fire Department truly needs better emergency communications, then why wouldn’t a 70-foot cell tower be sufficient in lieu of its massive 150-foot cell tower?

The Board members have been convinced by Elite Towers’ attorney that this is a state-of-the-art tower which will telescope into itself (and not topple over) under the stress of a nor’easter, hurricane, or other disaster. But Elite’s attorney is dead wrong because all cell towers are bolted together and cannot telescope. We confirmed this with engineers and contractors and will have an expert witness to testify to this at the forthcoming public hearing. It is important to note that Elite’s attorney reassured the Board on 5 or 6 occasions that its tower will telescope upon structural failure, the last of which was at the November 19, 2025 meeting immediately before the Board voted unanimously to issue a Negative SEQRA Declaration (meaning the tower poses no material safety or environmental threats). As the Negative Declaration is the lynchpin to approve the application subject only to the public hearing, it must be pointed out that the Board’s decision is based upon the absolutely false assumption that Elite’s Tower would telescope in the event of a disaster. By issuing a Negative Declaration, the Board reversed the Positive Declaration it made on July 22, 2020.

o   The Media have reported many instances of cell towers collapsing or catching fire or of equipment or materials falling during routine maintenance. For example, right here in Springs, in a rainstorm, the skin flew off the tower at the East Hampton Recycling Center on Springs Fireplace Road. 

o   While the Planning Board is prohibited by the federal government from rejecting Elite’s application based on wireless radiation health risks, that did not stop the International Association of Fire Fighters from passing a resolution in 2004 denouncing the placement of commercial wireless telecommunications equipment at firehouses due to radiation concerns. (https://www.iaff.org/cell-tower-radiation/.)

o   The Elite tower contravenes East Hampton’s Comprehensive Plan for preserving scenic vistas and irreplaceable history. The mainstay of East Hampton is tourism. People come from all corners of the earth to partake of this sumptuous, well-preserved 1648 environment (that’s why we have no McDonalds or Burger King or car dealerships, etc.).

o   Gerard Drive and Louse Point Road surround Accabonac Harbor, plus, of course, we should include the Harbor itself and its pastoral, public beaches. All of these locations are designated as statewide areas of scenic significance and Elite’s present illegal tower looms over and desecrates all of them.

o   The East Hampton Planning Board rubber-stamped the “Protected Species Impact Assessment” included in Elite’s application. The report prepared by VHB Engineering (engaged and paid for by Elite) brazenly concludes this tower poses no threats to wildlife. This is ridiculous. The Springs is a veritable wildlife refuge. It abounds with Osprey and Bald Eagle nests. Turtles and endangered Eastern Tiger Salamander and Spotted Salamander flourish in the sandy pine groves and ponds in the Springs—such as Pussy’s Pond Park and the pine groves alongside Accabonac Harbor, both under a half mile from Elite’s tower. Red Foxes, Eastern Cottontail Rabbits, Northern Long-Eared Bats, Coyotes and Monarch Butterflies are cherished inhabitants of the forests and wetlands in Springs. How can Elite possibly deny this? There is an Osprey nest today atop its tower at the Springs Firehouse.

o   Studies have found that the presence of cell towers lower property values by 20% to 50% because of aesthetics and concerns about health effects from wireless radiation.

o   The Elite tower will require a separate diesel-powered emergency generator and a diesel storage tank for each of the 4 wireless carriers. If fuel spills, it will pollute the groundwater. Residents pump water from their backyards to drink and sustain their yards. Drinking contaminated water could poison Springs residents.