Politics & Government

Controversial Cell Tower Application Scheduled for Feb. 22.

Zoning Board members sworn in

Discussion of a controversial application to construct a cell phone antenna tower on Colfax Road has been scheduled for Feb. 22, the Zoning Board of Adjustment announced at its first meeting of the year Tuesday night.

The application by T-Mobile Northeast LLC has been met with resistance by some members of the neighborhood. A use variance is a required part of the application since the antenna is to be constructed in a residential zone. 

A few dozen people attended the meeting because the application was listed on the board's agenda for scheduling and left once the scheduling was announced. Several declined to comment on the application. 

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"We want to know why this has been moved so many times," one woman in the audience said.

Board's Chairman William Van Gieson stated that there is a procedure to follow when it comes to what applications are heard and when they are heard.

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Hundreds of residents have signed a petition stating they are against the antenna's construction. 

There are four other applications to construct antenna towers in the township, three before the board of adjustment and another before the planning board.

The board announced that the town has retained Douglas Fishman, a radio frequency expert with RCC Consultants Inc., to review the cell tower applications. RCC Consultants has been working with the township to upgrade its 9-1-1 emergency services system.

In other board news, Zev Friede, Peter Botbyl and John Cappo Jr. were sworn in to new terms on the board. Friede is a regular member. Botbyl and Cappo are alternates. Russell Ray was scheduled to be sworn in as a regular member but was not present at the meeting.


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