By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK — The Zoning Board of Adjustment last week requested that AT&T Wireless address a flaw in its plans before returning for a hearing on its application to install antennas on a Lexington Avenue cell tower.
The company began its presentation last Thursday night, asking that it be allowed to place six antennas, as well as backing equipment, on an existing 170-foot-tall cell tower owned by Comcast at 17 Lexington Ave.
Zoning board members became concerned, however, that the map the applicant used to discuss the company’s coverage area was misleading.
The design used two colors to depict its coverage area — green to signify areas in East Brunswick and other communities already covered by AT&T Wireless and white to mark locations not currently covered.
After questioning from the board, including Chairman Steve Philips, the applicant said that not all sections in green actually have coverage right now.
Some are areas the company is trying to cover through pending applications before the appropriate municipal boards.
Philips said the company might not receive all of the approvals it is seeking for antenna installation.
"Others may not get approved, yet you have them in green," he said.
Daniel Penesso, a radio frequency engineer who testified on behalf of AT&T, said the network the company is installing in those areas is brand new, and the company realizes that even if it gets permission for the areas marked in green, it would still have some gaps in South River and East Brunswick.

