Nextel to test location
for cellular antennas
DPW tower would have to be extended; Kastning suggests alternate site
By linda denicola
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE — A number of communications companies are interested in providing better wireless communication in the township.
At the last Township Committee meeting, officials approved a request from Nextel of New York to test a site behind the Department of Public Works (DPW) building on Perrineville Road.
The test, which will take Nextel just a couple of hours, involves setting up a crane with an antenna on top and taking readings in various parts of town to see how strong the signal is, Committeeman William Kastning explained.
"They have to do the test using a crane to see how tall a tower they would need," he added. The public works tower is on the bottom of a hill and would have to be extended, he said.
Kastning explained that Nextel and a number of other wireless providers are interested in getting better coverage in town. Verizon is also interested.
If a wireless antenna application for Agress Road had been approved, there would have been more applications. In late November, the Zoning Board of Adjustment denied a variance application by Nextel to place antennas on the GPU electric tower on Agress Road. The tower is located in a rural/environmental zone that does not permit cell towers.
"Technically speaking, that was a very appropriate site," Kastning said. "The site by the DPW building is a municipally owned site, but it is 10 feet away from a park.
"One of the biggest objectors to the Agress Road site was the county because the land is slated to become part of a county park," Kastning said.
He suggested the committee consider offering a spot on an existing tower, located behind a township school, that is leased by the county. He suggested that they try to initiate a quid pro quo deal whereby Nextel could use the school tower rather than the DPW site, which is next to a playground and the proposed county park.
The school, at the intersection of Millstone, Backbone Hill and School House roads, tends to be one of the higher properties in town. There’s a tall tower there now with a lot of room for cellular antennas, Kastning said.
He advised the committee to pursue it with the county freeholders. "That’s actually a better site with an existing tower, rather than building another one," said Kastning.
"I’d rather see them use the school tower and the money go to the school," he added, speculating that the school district could realize $5,000 to $30,000 from a single cellular provider.
Deputy Mayor Cory Wingerter said he was looking forward to what Nextel has to say after the test.