In late Dec. 2024, telecommunications company Verizon began constructing a cell tower in Sleepy Hollow, which will provide cell service to the neighborhood. Sleepy Hollow had previously been without cell service, creating a public safety hazard and inconveniencing residents. The tower will be located at the San Domenico School campus and is expected to be operational by April.
The tower was built primarily to address safety concerns, as power outages in particular can disrupt emergency communications. Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District president Rich Shortall emphasized the consequences that losing power can have on public safety.
“We have not had cell phone coverage out [in Sleepy Hollow]. So if the power goes out for a lot of people, there’s no cell coverage. If you try to call 911, you can’t get through, and [likewise], if there was, say, an alert [sent] over a cell tower, [residents] wouldn’t be able to receive the message,” Shortall said.
Discussions about installing a cell tower began around 10 years ago between the Sleepy Hollow Homeowners Association (SHHA), Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District, and former Marin County Supervisor Katie Rice. The community had delayed the construction of the tower because of its potential unsightliness, fears of electromagnetic waves, and various other concerns.
However, the tipping point came in Oct. 2020 when a fire broke out on Dutch Valley Lane in Sleepy Hollow. Archie Williams senior Stella Gregor witnessed the fire.
“Right across the street [from my house], there was a house fire, and we didn’t have any cell service to call… The power was out, so nobody could use WiFi to call [emergency services]. Luckily, my dad had a satellite WiFi dish, so he was able to make the call to 911, but nobody would have been able to get the word out that there was a fire,” Stella said.
The tragic event resulted in two fatalities, further motivating Sleepy Hollow residents to take action and install a cell tower.
“Unfortunately, a person died at the fire, and then another person died shortly after as a result of the fire. So that was really the last straw,” Shortall said.
The SHHA, led by president David Baker, recently surveyed Sleepy Hollow residents via postcards to gather opinions on the construction of a tower and received immense support.
“We got 550 [responses] back. We would [have been] excited to get 300 back, and all but six… people were opposed, and 483 were adamantly in favor,” Baker said.
After this show of community enthusiasm for the tower, Verizon led its construction, beginning in late Dec. 2024 at San Domenico School. The tower plans to include a diesel generator to be able to run regardless of power outages. To address the concerns about the tower’s appearance, it will also be disguised.
“It’s supposed to look like a water tank in a typical rural environment, which would feel very natural out there,” Shortall said.
Although Verizon maintains an expected completion date of early April, various environmental factors have delayed the construction since it began more than two months ago.
“[Construction] had to stop due to heavy rains in late December. The school [also] needed them to hold off on doing heavy grading because it would produce so much mud on the road with the excavator [moving around] in that first part of January,” Baker said.
Baker also noted that the cell tower may have adverse effects once it’s finished. He worries that cell phone usage while driving on Butterfield Rd, the main road in Sleepy Hollow, will increase.
“Everybody’s phone starts dinging when they get to the bottom of Butterfield, and so they start looking at their phone. And that’s been the one upside of having zero coverage up here: nobody’s looking at their phone… The phone is such an overpowering distraction that it really gives you some concern about safety on the road,” Baker said.
Despite delays and concerns, the long-awaited cell tower will soon bring reliable service to Sleepy Hollow. It will provide residents with everyday conveniences like stable phone calls and internet access. Furthermore, it will improve emergency communication and public safety in the neighborhood.
