Sam Raudins is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Verizon Wireless and the city of Hudson have agreed to settle a lawsuit filed in July by the communications giant. Verizon sued the city, its planning board and code enforcement department over an application submitted by the company for a special use permit required to install six antennas on top of Providence Hall. The company alleged the planning board took too long to consider the application, attached unlawful conditions to its approval and charged unreasonable escrow fees. In the case, Verizon asked the planning board to nullify the resolution, immediately grant necessary approvals for the application and for the city to return $48,500 the company paid in fees in addition to the costs associated with the lawsuit. Verizon and the city have agreed to delete a condition that would have barred other wireless providers from locating at 119 Columbia St. for 20 years. It also amends another condition that a modification in the technology employed at the property changing the service from 4G to 5G does not require approval by the planning board as long as any new or modified antennas continue to be screened by the approved stealth concealment panels. Also under the agreement, the city does not have to return escrow fees to Verizon. The settlement requires that the planning board approve the final plan for the concealment of the equipment, including materials and dimensions, within 30 days of submission by Verizon. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.