Hopewell Township zoners hold special meeting June 2

Cingular Pennsylvania returns to discuss proposed 180-foot telecommunications tower on New Road.

By Marianne Hooker
   At its May 4 meeting, the Hopewell Township Zoning Board of Adjustment heard testimony from Cingular Pennsylvania, which is proposing to build a 180-foot telecommunications tower to replace an existing 150-foot tower on New Road.
   Initial testimony on this application was heard in March. Further testimony will be presented June 2 at a special meeting of the board set for 7:30 p.m.
   The board also approved a hardship variance for a residential property on Apache Drive. The variance will allow the applicants to build an addition to their dwelling.
   Proposed telecommunications tower — Cingular Pennsylvania was requesting a use variance and preliminary and final site plan approval for the proposed replacement tower, which would be located at 86 New Road. This property is in the MRC zone. Attorney Gary Forshner presented the case on the applicant’s behalf.
   Robert Manahan, a civil engineer who has designed several hundred telecommunications sites, described the proposed tower and the equipment buildings that would go with it. The existing tower on the site is a lattice tower supported by guy wires. The proposed replacement tower would be a guyed tower of the same general type. The tower would be unmanned, but it would be remotely monitored on a continuous basis. An employee would come to visit the site every four to six weeks.
   Mr. Manahan said their plan is to use the existing equipment building and add another one like it. Both buildings and the tower would be enclosed within a 50-foot by 50-foot compound. The proposed tower would be located about 8 feet southeast of the existing tower. The site would be served by the existing driveway off of New Road, although the driveway would be somewhat extended.
   The site in question is a 6-acre lot in a wooded area. There are residential uses on all four sides. The property has a one-story house and garage in addition to the tower, but the house has not been inhabited for many years. The tower is set back approximately 400 feet from the right-of-way on New Road.
   The proposed tower would house a number of 4-foot-long antennas at various levels. The 180-foot height would be reserved for the local 911 service, and the police dispatching antennas would be at the 160-foot height. Cingular’s own antennas would be at the 155-foot level. The tower would have room for other tenants at the 80-foot, 60-foot, 45-foot, 35-foot, and 24-foot levels. The proposed compound could accommodate the support equipment for one more tenant; however, if additional tenants wished to collocate on the tower, the compound would need to be expanded.
   Mr. Manahan reviewed some of the variances that the proposed tower would require. A 180-foot tower would need a height variance, since the zoning ordinance sets a maximum height of 150 feet. The proposed tower would be only 59 feet from the property line at one point, which would necessitate another variance. A third variance would be required because the equipment shelters would come within 16 feet of the tower. The tower would require a lot size variance because the minimum lot size in this zone is 14 acres.
   Planner David Karlebach said telecommunications towers are not normally permitted in the MRC zone. However, there is a tower on the subject property already, so its use would not change if this application were approved. The land uses surrounding the tower are low-density residential development and agriculture. He characterized the site as having a "remote" location.
   Mr. Karlebach said that the proposed use of the tower for police communications would be an inherently beneficial use. The plan for additional height on the tower is driven by the police department’s need for improved coverage. He said that over 60 percent of the U.S. population now owns cell phones, and 35 percent of calls to 911 originate from cell phones.
   Mr. Karlebach reviewed the potential impacts of the proposed tower, which he described as "a very passive use." There would be no traffic impact to speak of, and no noise, vibration, or glare. With regard to the visual impact, he noted that passersby are already accustomed to seeing a tower in this location. The visual impact would be greatest for the five or six immediate neighbors. Mr. Karlebach said Cingular would be willing to add more landscaping to screen the base of the tower, and they are willing to paint the tower whatever color would be least conspicuous.
   According to Mr. Karlebach, the proposed tower would serve the needs of the township, and it would also fill coverage gaps for the local telecommunications carriers. It would provide an opportunity for collocation, thereby creating better access to the information highway. In his view, the proposed tower would pose no substantial detriment to the zone plan or the zoning ordinance, nor would it conflict with the township’s ordinance pertaining to cellular towers. If the present tower were replaced by a tower that was 30 feet taller, there would be no change in the number or location of towers in the community.
   Board Chairman William Connolly said the proposed replacement tower would be an expansion of an existing non-conforming condition.
   Several members of the public had questions for Mr. Manahan and Mr. Karlebach. Bob Totten asked whether these witnesses would be available at the next meeting. Mr. Forshner said this had not yet been decided. The principal witness at the upcoming meeting will be the applicant’s radio frequency engineer. Bruce Eisenstein, the township’s consultant who specializes in cellular communications, also will be present.
   Mark Smith of New Road asked whether there were any other possible sites that might serve the applicant’s purposes. He asked specifically about the Trap Rock site off Route 31, which is at a higher elevation. Mr. Connolly said this should be addressed by the radio frequency engineer.
   Morris Docktor, another neighbor, suggested that the present tower be replaced by a new one that was 150 feet in height. At the previous meeting, one of the witnesses stated that the police antennas are not mounted at the top of the existing tower because it would be unsafe to do so given the condition of the tower. With a new and more solid tower, these antennas could have greater height, and presumably better coverage.
   Building addition — George and Christina Marko of 7 Apache Drive in the Indian Village subdivision (R-100 zone) were seeking a 10-foot front yard setback variance in order to build an addition.
   The proposed addition would expand the existing garage to accommodate a specially equipped van. The addition would also include a front porch, a second floor addition with three bedrooms, and an elevator to provide handicapped access. The expanded garage would project four feet closer to the road than the porch.
   Mr. Marko said their property has the septic field in the back yard. There is also a pool in back, and a number of mature trees. Given these constraints, it appears that the most practical way to build on to the house would be to locate the addition in front. There were no comments from the public on the Markos’ application, and the board voted unanimously to approve it.
   IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board passed resolutions of memorialization to formalize its approval last month of applications by Robert Discordia and Krista Kerr, Paul Kiss, and Arron and Heather Tellier.
   The board also presented resolutions of appreciation for two former members, Mary Barna and Richard Willever. Ms. Barna served as a member for 15 years, and Mr. Willever served for 10. Chairman Connolly thanked them both for their many years of dedicated service.