HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260061 15 Henning Rd Verizon Utility Pole Application
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
In the Matter of the Application of
______________________________________________________________
CELLCO PARTNERSHIP
d/b/a Verizon Wireless
Utility Pole No. NM 7 / VZ 6
Adjacent to 15 Henning Rd.
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
____________________________________________________________
APPLICATION FOR DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL
and STATEMENT OF INTENT
Submitted by:
Verizon Wireless
Kathy Pomponio, Real Estate Market Manager
1275 John Street, Suite 100
West Henrietta, New York 14586
(585) 321-5435
Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants, P.C.
Steven Matthews, P.E.
36 British American Blvd, Suite 101
Latham, New York 12110
(518) 783-1630
Airosmith Development Inc.
Sara Colman, Site Acquisition Specialist
318 West Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 461-7114
Please Direct All Correspondence To:
Young/Sommer LLC
David C. Brennan, Esq.
500 Federal Street, 5th Floor
Troy NY, 12180
(518) 438-9907
Dated: January 20, 2026
1
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS
SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
In the Matter of the Application of
___________________________________________________________________
CELLCO PARTNERSHIP d/b/a Verizon Wireless
Premises: Utility Pole No. NM 7 / VZ 6 - Adjacent to 15 Henning Rd.
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
___________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF INTENT and
APPLICATION FOR DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL
I. Purpose and Need
CELLCO PARTNERSHIP d/b/a Verizon Wireless (“Verizon Wireless” or the
“Applicant”) proposes the collocation of an unmanned public utility/personal wireless service
facility (a "communications facility") at the above location. More specifically, Verizon Wireless is
proposing to add wireless telecommunications equipment to the proposed replacement utility
pole.
The Applicant proposes to install on a replacement utility pole: a single, cylindrical
antenna (approximately 24” tall x 14.6” in diameter) mounted at the top of the pole at a tip height
of 41.7± feet along with the installation of electric and telecommunications equipment on the
utility pole at a minimum height of 8’ above grade. All proposed equipment will be painted brown as
noted on Sheet C-2B and consistent with prior DRB approvals for similar projects. The existing utility
pole measures 32.3± feet in height, the proposed utility pole measures 38.5± feet above grade.
The property is located in the right of way adjacent to 15 Henning Rd., City of Saratoga Springs,
Saratoga County, New York (NM 7 / VZ 6). [Zoning Site Plan Drawings of Tectonic
Engineering & Surveying, PC at TAB 6].
Upon completion, the proposed facility will provide additional wireless network
bandwidth and improved performance to the nearby roads and the surrounding areas, as shown
in the accompanying coverage maps. More specifically, the site as proposed will improve
coverage and network performance along the surrounding portion of Henning Rd. which will
result in increased coverage for the BOCES building as well as Saratoga Springs Fire Station No.
3, both of which are located on Henning Road [Proposed Coverage Map at TAB 3].
Verizon Wireless is considered a public utility for land use purposes under New York
decisional law (Cellular Telephone Company v. Rosenberg1, 82 N.Y.2d 364 [1993]), and a provider of
“personal wireless services” under the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the “TCA”).
Verizon Wireless’ equipment will be in operation twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a
week, three hundred sixty-five (365) days a year.
1 In Rosenberg, the State’s highest Court determined that the ordinary variance standard is inapplicable and a cellular
telephone company applying for relief need only show that (1) the relief is “required to render safe and adequate
service,” and (2) there are “compelling reasons, economic or otherwise,” for needing the variance. Cellular Telephone
Company v. Rosenberg, 82 N.Y.2d 364, 372 (1993).
2
Verizon Wireless is applying for review by the Design Review Board.2 The proposed
replacement pole is located in the INST-ED Zoning District. The facility is not located in the
Historic Review District nor in the Architectural Review District.
The proposed communications facility is unmanned and will be visited for routine
maintenance purposes approximately two times per year (only as needed). As such, the project
will not have any impact on existing water and sewage services. In addition, neither pedestrian
nor vehicular access to the premises will be impacted [see Zoning Drawings at TAB 6].
II. Compliance with City Requirements
The proposed communications facility complies in all material respects with City
requirements:
1. SEQRA: A Short Environmental Assessment Form is attached as TAB 2.
2. Minimum Visual Impact: As noted above, Verizon Wireless’ proposed facility is
designed to have a minimum possible visual effect on the surrounding community
and neighborhood [TAB 4].
3. Site Plan: The Applicant has provided a Zoning Site Plan that identifies the
proposed improvements [TAB 6].
Based upon the foregoing, Verizon Wireless respectfully submits that approval is
appropriate in this case.
III. Conclusion
The communications facility proposed is a public necessity under Rosenberg in that it is
required to render adequate and safe service to this area of the City of Saratoga Springs. In an
effort to supplement existing telecommunications services to this area of the City, while reducing
the need for a new tower or macro cell collocation, Verizon Wireless has identified an appropriate
location for the deployment of a small cell facility. Verizon Wireless’ existing macro cell sites in
the area do not provide adequate coverage and capacity to this area of the City. The City of
Saratoga Springs will be lacking adequate and safe capacity, and the failure to approve this
application will eliminate the means to provide necessary capacity. This, combined with the
federal mandate to expeditiously deploy advanced wireless services across the nation and
Verizon Wireless’ FCC licenses to provide such services in the City of Saratoga Springs,
demonstrates that Verizon Wireless’ facility is a public necessity. Without the construction of the
communications facility proposed, the public would be deprived of an essential means of
communication, which, in turn, would jeopardize the safety and welfare of the community and
traveling public.
2 For the reasons set forth herein, Verizon Wireless believes that its project complies in all material respects with the
provisions of the City of Saratoga Springs Land Use Laws and, consistent with the application process established by
the City for prior Small Cell applications, that no additional approvals or relief are required. To the extent that an
additional approval or relief is required, Verizon Wireless submits these materials in support of such approval(s).
3
The small cell facility will not be noticeable to the traveling public or nearby property
owners. The communications system proposed has been sited to have the least practical adverse
visual effect on the environment, and any resulting impact(s) may properly be considered as
minimal in nature and scope.
Attached to this Application and Statement of Intent are the following:
1) An Application for Architectural/Historic Review by the Design Review Board;
2) A Short Environmental Assessment Form;
3) Radio Frequency Coverage Plots:
4) Photosimulations of the proposed installation and SEQRA Visual EAF Addendum;
5) Radio Frequency – Site Compliance Report; and
6) Project Zoning Drawings.
Kindly place this matter on the agenda for discussion at the next available meeting of the
Design Review Board. In the meantime, if you should have any questions or require any
additional information concerning this project, I can be reached at (518) 438-9907.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
CELLCO PARTNERSHIP d/b/a Verizon Wireless
David C. Brennan, Esq.
Regional Local Counsel
Dated: January 20, 2026
TAB 1
TAB 2
TAB 3
4G Coverage: 700 MHz, -95
dBm RSRP
2100 MHz Coverage,-85 dBm RSRP
Proposed New Coverage
TAB 4
10751.046
Looking Southwest from along Henning Rd.
The proposed Verizon Wireless Equipment will be visible from this location.
Distance from the photographic location to the proposed site is 35'±
P-1
S -1
10751.046Distance from the photographic location to the proposed site is 35'±
Looking Southwest from along Henning Rd.
The proposed Verizon Wireless Equipment will be visible from this location.
P-2
10751.046
Looking North from the south entrance of the F. Donald Meyers Educational
Center. The proposed equipment will be visible from this location.
Distance from the photographic location to the proposed site is 50'±
S -2
10751.046
Looking North from the south entrance of the F. Donald Meyers Educational
Center. The proposed equipment will be visible from this location.
Distance from the photographic location to the proposed site is 50'±
TAB 5
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1777 Sentry Parkway W. Building 11 • Suite 201 Blue Bell • PA • 19422
Verizon Wireless
Site Compliance Report
Site name - HENNING RD FD
Site Name: HENNING RD FD
Site Address: Adj to Henning Road, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
Structure Type: Utility Pole
Report Information
Report Date: Jan 13, 2026
Report Generated by: Mamta Verma
Customer Contact: Rick Andras
Compliance Statement
Verizon Compliance Statement: Verizon wireless is compliant with FCC rules and regulations in all publicly accessible
areas.
2
1777 Sentry Parkway W. Building 11 • Suite 201 Blue Bell • PA • 19422
Contents
1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 3
2. Antenna Inventory ................................................................................................................................................... 4
3. Analysis ................................................................................................................................................................... 5
4. Appendix A: Reference Information ......................................................................................................................... 6
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1777 Sentry Parkway W. Building 11 • Suite 201 Blue Bell • PA • 19422
1. Executive Summary
Verizon Wireless has contracted with Circet USA, an independent Radio Frequency consulting firm, to determine
if the proposed telecommunications facility is in compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and regulations regarding RF exposure as defined in 47 CFR § 1.1307(b) and 1.1310. This document and the
conclusions herein are based on the information provided by representatives of Verizon Wireless which is assumed
to be true and correct.
All information used in this report was analyzed to determine compliance in publicly accessible areas, in particular
at ground level. The analysis evaluates the telecommunications facility with respect to the General
Population/Uncontrolled Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) limits. Circet USA has taken into consideration
the Verizon Wireless antenna system as well as any existing antenna systems at the subject location.
Verizon Wireless final antenna count is (1) antenna.
Based on the analysis, Circet USA has determined that:
Verizon Wireless is compliant in all publicly accessible areas with the FCC rules and regulations governing human
exposure to RF electromagnetic fields as described in 47 CFR § 1.1307(b) and 1.1310.
With the proposed Verizon Wireless antenna configuration in service, the composite exposure from this facility in
all areas at ground level will be less than 1% of the General Population MPE limit, or over 100 times less than the
maximum allowed exposure in publicly accessible areas.
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1777 Sentry Parkway W. Building 11 • Suite 201 Blue Bell • PA • 19422
2. Antenna Inventory
The table below contains data provided by Verizon Wireless representatives and/or gathered by
Circet USA personnel. This data was used to perform the RF exposure analysis.
Notes: Each row with the same number in the Antenna ID column references the same physical antenna. Power values provided by the client and used in the analysis
may be greater than what is initially deployed.
80% TDD Duty Cycle and 100% FDD Duty Cycle are used.
Jumper/connector/coax power losses between RRHs and antenna:
AWS/PCS: 2 dB
C-band: 2.5 dB
Ant ID Owner Antenna
manufacturer Antenna model Mech. Tilt
(°)
Azimuth
(°)Height (ft)Frequency
band
Elec. Tilt
(°)HBW (°)VBW (°)
Total
power
(Watts)
Gain
(dBd)
ERP
(Watts)
1 Verizon JMA Wireless CX16OMI236-BFxy 0 0 34.6 PCS1900 2 360 27.1 63.55 5.25 212.86
1 Verizon JMA Wireless CX16OMI236-BFxy 0 0 34.6 LTE 2100 2 360 27.1 190.6 5.25 638.57
1 Verizon JMA Wireless CX16OMI236-BFxy 0 0 34.6 4GHz 2 360 9.4 142.9 7.65 832.05
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1777 Sentry Parkway W. Building 11 • Suite 201 Blue Bell • PA • 19422
3. Analysis
Circet USA has included the Verizon Wireless antenna system at the subject location in the
analysis. All existing and proposed antennas are listed in the antenna table above. Engineering
assumptions were used when specific antenna or operating parameter information was not
available for the other existing collocated antennas (if applicable).
Using this data, software modeling using IXUS software was performed for all transmitting
antennas located at the site. Circet USA has assumed a 100% duty cycle and maximum radiated
power. The site has been modeled with these assumptions to determine the maximum potential
RF energy density at ground level. Circet USA believes this to be a worst‐case analysis based
on the best available data.
As stated previously, based on this analysis, the calculated ground level exposure from the
Verizon Wireless antenna system alone is less than 1% of the General Population MPE limit.
Keep in mind that the FCC did not arbitrarily establish their own standards but rather adopted
the recommendations of national and international organizations such as the National Council
on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). These
recommendations were developed by expert scientists and engineers following extensive
evaluation of the potential biological effects from RF exposure. The FCC MPE limits are based
on thresholds for known adverse effects, and they were designed to provide a substantial
margin of safety. There is a safety factor of 50 built into the General Public MPE limits, and the
predicted Verizon Wireless exposure levels are over 100 times below these very conservative
limits.
In cases where such compliance exists, the subject of electromagnetic field safety is preempted
by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which states: “No state or local government or
instrumentality thereof may regulate the placement, construction, and modification of personal
wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions
to the extent that such facilities comply with the (Federal Communication) Commission’s
regulations concerning such emissions.”
The graph below provides a visual depiction of the rather insignificant electromagnetic field
exposure contribution from the Verizon Wireless antenna system out to a distance of 500’ from
the base of the structure. This portrays how low the Verizon Wireless contribution is when
compared to the General Population MPE limit.
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1777 Sentry Parkway W. Building 11 • Suite 201 Blue Bell • PA • 19422
4. Appendix A: Reference Information
FCC Rules & Regulations
All information used in this report was analyzed as a percentage of the MPE limits as detailed in 47 CFR §
1.1310. The calculated power density at each sample point divided by the limit at each calculated frequency
provides a result in % MPE. Summing the calculated % MPE from all contributors provides accumulative
% MPE at a particular sample point. Wireless carriers use different frequency bands with varying MPE
limits; therefore, it is useful to report results in terms of % MPE as opposed to power density.
All results were compared to the FCC radio frequency exposure rules as detailed in 47 CFR § 1.1307(b) to
determine compliance with the MPE limits for General Population/Uncontrolled environments as defined
below:
Two Classifications for Exposure Limits
Occupational – Applies to situations in which persons
are “exposed as a consequence of their employment”
and are “fully aware of the potential for exposure and
can exercise control over their exposure”.
General Population – Applies to situations in which
persons are “exposed as a consequence of their
employment may not be made fully aware of the potential
for exposure or cannot exercise control over their
exposure”. Generally speaking, those without significant
and documented RF Safety & Awareness training would
be in the General Population classification.
Environment Classification
Controlled – Applies to environments that are restricted
or “controlled” in order to prevent access from members
of the General Population classification.
Uncontrolled – Applies to environments that are
unrestricted or “uncontrolled” that allow access from
members of the General Population classification.
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1777 Sentry Parkway W. Building 11 • Suite 201 Blue Bell • PA • 19422
The MPE limits defined in 47 CFR § 1.1310 and utilized in this analysis are outlined in the table and diagram
below:
Limits for Occupational/Controlled Exposure
Frequency Electric Field Magnetic Field Power Density Averaging Time
Range Strength Strength (S) |E|2, |H|2, or S
(MHz) (E) (V/m) (H) (A/m) (mW/cm2) (minutes)
0.3-3.0 614 1.63 (100)* 6
3.0-30 1842/f 4.89/f (900/f2)* 6
30-300 61.4 0.163 1.0 6
300-1500 ‐‐ ‐‐ f/300 6
1500-100,000 ‐‐ ‐‐ 5 6
Limits for General Population/Uncontrolled Exposure
Frequency Electric Field Magnetic Field Power Density Averaging Time
Range Strength Strength (S) |E|2, |H|2, or S
(MHz) (E) (V/m) (H) (A/m) (mW/cm2) (minutes)
0.3-1.34 614 1.63 (100)* 30
1.34-30 824/f 2.19/f (180/f2)* 30
30-300 27.5 0.073 0.2 30
300-1500 ‐‐ ‐‐ f/1500 30
1500-100,000 ‐‐ ‐‐ 1.0 30
f = frequency in MHz
* = Plane‐wave equivalent power density
TAB 6
NY industrial code rule 753 requires no less than two
working days notice, but not more than ten days notice.
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