Firm still seeks alternate
location for cellular tower
By linda denicola
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — The continuation of the American Cellular Network Co. (Cingular Wireless) hearing before the Planning Board was postponed again last week. The hearing is now scheduled to resume at the board’s Dec. 5 meeting.
According to Guy Leighton, the township’s assistant planner, the firm is still working with the township in trying to find a location for the communications tower that will not affect a residential neighborhood.
Cingular Wireless is seeking site plan approval to construct a telecommunications facility which would include a 140-foot high monopole with an array of 12 antennas, an equipment shelter, an access driveway and related equipment on 4.28 acres on Route 9 north, just north of Route 524. The shelter and the antennas would be contained within a 22- by 52-foot chain link fence.
The parcel is zoned CMX-3 (corporate multi-use), which means that a communications service is a permitted use in the zone.
According to Leighton, the equipment building would be set back from the property line in excess of 50 feet as required and there would be adequate screening of the equipment shelter from a nursing home to the north and private residences to the east.
Residents of the Juniper Farms development have stated their objection to the construction of the tower in a location close to their homes. Part of the development is behind the Route 9 property where Cingular wants to put the tower.
In order to help facilitate locating another site for the tower, municipal officials hired a consultant and had the township engineer draw up a map that shows every potential alternate site, public and private.
At its meeting last week, the Planning Board also continued a public hearing on Shore Point Distributing Co. Inc.’s request for approval to build a 20,800-square-foot addition to the rear of an existing 96,400-square-foot warehouse at Three Brooks and Halls Mill roads.
Nearby residents expressed concern over the noise and additional trailer truck traffic at the first public hearing so the company agreed to try and come up with solutions.
Leighton said Shore Point representatives did come up with a solution to the noise, but there was still a lot of discussion during the meeting last week.
"The applicant is putting up an 8-foot tall solid fence, additional landscaping and an exhaust fan that blows to the rear," he said. They also discussed some traffic solutions, he said, adding that the application will be approved at the next Planning Board meeting.
In addition, an application to construct a 10,686-square-foot expansion of the existing Freehold Dodge dealership will also be acted upon at the next meeting, Leighton said. The auto dealership wants to expand the parking and vehicle storage areas, construct a storm water basin and install additional site lighting and landscaping at its Route 79 and Willowbrook Road property.