Bernards: Request to Build Cell Phone Tower on Township Owned Land Denied

The Bernards Township Committee denied a request to to build a 120-foot-high cell phone tower on municipally owned land at Tuesday’s Township Committee meeting.

The vote to deny the request to lease land off of Washington Avenue was a unanimous one, according to Bernardsville News.

The Proposal

The proposal presented before the Bernards Township Committee for a Verizon Wireless cell tower to be installed off of Washington Avenue caused some residents to speak out against the idea at Tuesday night’s committee meeting.

Although some committee members said they were not exactly in favor of the proposal, cell towers are allowed on municipal property if approved by the Township Committee. Committeeman John Carpenter pointed out another instance regarding Stonehouse Road when the committee rejected a similar proposal, only to have the vendor seek out private property instead, according to The Bernardsville News.

Some residents spoke out, stating the land mentioned within the proposal provides a noise and visual buffer between property owners and Route 287.

Others questioned the need for another cell tower in the area, saying they’re Verizon service works just fine. Bernards Township resident Andy Murray said his Verizon service worked well even for the 12 days he and his family lost power after Hurricane Sandy, according to TAP into Basking Ridge.

According to a letter from Advantage Engineers to the township, Verizon Wireless is offering to pay $2,300 per month as rent for an unmanned wireless telecommunications facility.

“[This] proposed installation will consist of allotted ground square footage (2,500 sq. ft.) for the equipment, construction of a pole with several antennas to be located at a height between 100’ - 130’ and the associated cabling required to provide electric/telephone service to the antennas,” the letter said.

“Verizon will be responsible for all financial, zoning, permitting, and pre-construction activities that will occur as a result of the installation.”

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