Citizens Group Protests Cell Antennas on Lenox's Curtis Building

LENOX, Mass. — A demonstration hosted by the Lenox Citizens for Safe Cell Siting Group highlighted its concerns this past weekend with placing a cell antennas on top of the Housing Authority's subsidized housing facility, the Curtis.

Member Courtney Gilardi, a Pittsfield resident who has been demanding action on cell tower in that city, said there are many issues within this proposal that include health risks for residents in the former hotel, equity concerns with placing technology on elderly and handicapped housing, and the allowance of a cell tower on residential property, opening the flood gates for other similar placements.

"Really what it becomes is not just an environmental health issue, it becomes a social justice issue because often these towers are placed in low socio-economic areas, and the Curtis is the only elderly disabled in low-income housing option for people in Lenox,'' she said.

"And these are the people who then have to rally their time, energy resources, and often money in order to hire an attorney to push back, whereas in wealthier neighborhoods, people don't put toxic infrastructure in wealthier neighborhoods, they get to have the benefit of it, but they don't have to have it living right next to them.''

She said 25 to 30 people came out to support the demonstration on Saturday and that group tried to share information with others.

"Some people were like, 'Well, I don't live at the Curtis, so why should I care?''' Gilardi said.

"And it was really interesting that citizens were educating people. 'Well, you know, this opens up the wireless zoning bylaws to placing small cells outside people's houses, or having infrastructure closest close to home.' And then they went, 'Oh, well, I wouldn't want it in my back yard or front yard,' and then they took the info sheet.''

Gilardi is currently residing in Lenox after leaving her Pittsfield home because of the cell tower at 877 South St. She says the tower has caused her family and neighbors to become ill.

She has been advocating for proper cell tower notifications, setbacks, and the removal of the tower in her neighborhood for over a year and is expanding her efforts to Lenox in the wake of this proposal.

Director of Lenox Housing Authority Barbara Heaphy told iBerkshires that the proposal is currently tabled by the town and that there is "really nothing to report right now.''

Evolution Site Services of Pittsfield was awarded the project through the Housing Authority. It is a local service provider company that contracts with Verizon.

In July, the Williamstown Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special permit for Evolution Site Services to build a 153-foot cell tower on land leased from Phelps Farm.

This is the third time that a cell tower has been proposed on the Curtis. In 2002, the Housing Authority voted to reject a proposal with AT&T and another fell through in 2017.

Lenox currently has a Wireless Telecommunications Overlay District that limits the facilities to three locations on Junction Routes 7 and 20 and Route 7.

"Lenox has very protective wireless zoning bylaws,'' Gilardi said. "So protective that it limits cell antenna placement to essentially three areas. Now, are those the right three areas? Who knows?''

Gilardi also found an issue in the lack of publication for meetings that have the cell tower proposal on the agenda. She and other residents reportedly felt left in the dark, specifically when a South County television station was not able to film a Planning Board meeting at the housing complex even though it was listed as a public meeting.

If approved, this proposal will likely have to go through the Historical Commission because of the old hotel's significance in the town.

The Curtis was built in 1829 as a hotel and got its name in 1853 when it was purchased by William O. Curtis and became known as the Curtis Hotel.

By the 1970s, the hotel was in rough shape and was purchased by the town of Lenox in 1979 to be converted into subsidized housing units that was completed in 1982.

Clarification: the original version of this article gave the appearance that Courtney Gilardi's opinion of Cityscape Consultants might be factual. Cityscape represents local government in dealing with wireless structures and this should have been made clear. This section has been updated to include a statement to that effect and comment from the town's Cityscape representative.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.