Fox Hollow Cell Tower Fight Looming

The possibility of a cell tower at a local swim club has an east side neighborhood trying to fight the deal before it lands in the hands of the Cherry Hill zoning board.

More than 250 residents have signed an online petition against the tower, which would be built on a portion of the club’s 3.6-acre parcel on Partridge Lane, citing concerns ranging from possible environmental damage to decreased property values.

And despite some of the club’s neighbors being bondholders in Fox Hollow, the club has shut out everyone but the membership from the process, opponents said.

“They have not told anyone—the community is pretty much finding out from us,” said Margaret Krzeminski-Pacuku, one of the organizers of the petition drive against the tower. “Everyone is feeling very blindsided.”

With worries a tower could drive down the value of their homes and possibly harm wildlife in the Green Acres area near the club, as well as health concerns over having a tower close to the neighborhood, Krzeminski-Pacuku said the club should’ve at least informed people living nearby of the plan, if not offered them a seat at the table in discussions.

“It would’ve been the right thing to do,” she said. “We don’t know how far they’re into the deal…it’s kind of alienating.”

Fox Hollow's club leadership declined to comment when contacted Wednesday, though they posted a note on the club's Facebook page late last week regarding the proposal.

That statement said AT&T told the club it was an ideal spot for a tower, as it’d have the least impact and would be most effective for coverage. AT&T representatives couldn’t be reached to confirm that information, though.

How much the club stands to benefit isn’t clear, though an anonymous club member claimed in an email to the Philadelphia Inquirer the lease would be for $2,000 per month.

Krzeminski-Pacuku said part of the fight against the tower is the precedent it sets, potentially opening up nearly every neighborhood in the township to towers in institutional zones, which cover all the township’s schools and swim clubs, among other spots.

But the township zoning ordinance already allows for cell towers in those zones—buried at the bottom of Article IV are the requirements, including a minimum of two acres of land and a maximum height of 100 feet, not including antennas.

AT&T’s tower at Fox Hollow would be 120 feet, opponents said, meaning it could end up before the zoning board. Those fighting it said they hope it never makes it that far, but Krzeminski-Pacuku said they’re prepared to take it on at a hearing.

To this point, the township and the zoning board have had no involvement in any talks regarding the tower, Cherry Hill spokeswoman Bridget Palmer said.

“We wouldn't be officially involved in the process until we get an application,” she said.