Letters

As someone who feels a deep sense of ownership and pride in the Village of Southampton, living in both the village and Water Mill for the last 50 years, we are troubled by the proposal to erect a 125-foot cell tower immediately behind the Windmill Lane firehouse [“Southampton Village Looks To Add Cell Tower; Historic District Could Be Expanded,” 27east.com, November 15, 2024].

To us, this development feels completely out of sync with the character and charm of the village. As longtime residents, we strongly oppose the tower because of its massive scale, its visual impact and its proximity to our historic district. Its height and diameter make it a structure that will be hard to miss, polluting and spoiling both our landscape and skyscape.

The Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation and village are concerned about paint colors, window placements and aesthetics, all of which we fully appreciate, yet our village is considering allowing this tower? Shouldn’t the same aesthetic principles be applied here?

At a recent Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, it was mentioned that satellite technology might offer a better solution for enhancing emergency communications, rather than a structure that may be technologically outdated in a few years. The Town of Riverhead is exploring this alternative as a way to improve coverage, reduce dead zones and cut costs.

We strongly urge the Board of Trustees to consider this option carefully, as it not only seems to promise to be more cost-effective but we believe that it also ensures our firefighters, ambulance teams and lifeguards can continue to serve and protect our village, without sacrificing the historic beauty that makes Southampton so special.

William and Catherine Milligan

Water Mill