Residents’ opposition to tower in March leads officialsto seek guidance on plan reviews, setting rules
By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
The township is taking steps to gain more information about cell towers before any more requests are received.
The township may be enlisting the help of consultants from the Center for Municipal Solutions to craft an ordinance guiding cell tower construction, or seek the group’s input when cell phone companies seek to build towers in town.
According to Albert Tagliaferri, consultant for the Center for Municipal Solutions, the company is looking to assist Hillsborough in the future if the municipality receives proposals to build cell towers.
”We want to match the best location for the facility with the needs of the town,” he said. “Hillsborough reached out to us to get general information in the event that they receive a proposal from a wireless provider.”
Having guidance from the firm would have been helpful during hearings in March for an application by Sprint Spectrum LLC for a tower at the Woods Road Fire Company firehouse.
During the March 21 zoning board meeting reviewing the application, residents brought up concerns about exposure to radiation from the tower itself, and whether it would actually allow for adequate service throughout the entire township, among other problems.
Ultimately, the application was withdrawn.
”Subsequently, it was brought to our attention that there are cell tower consultant firms that may be able to provide guidance to the zoning and planning boards when considering applications for cell towers,” Mayor Anthony Ferrera said.
According to Mr. Tagliaferri, the company looks at applications sent to townships by wireless providers and analyzes if what the company offers is in the best interest of the town.
Mr. Tagliaferri said there is no charge for the municipalities for the organization’s services; instead the center is paid by an escrow fee from cell tower the applicants.
Mr. Tagliaferri and Richard Comi, founder of the organization, presented their ideas at the Nov. 27 Township Committee meeting, citing their company as one that works with municipalities across the country to update current regulations about wireless service and find the best locations for the building of cell towers in the community to support wireless service.
”You don’t want the towers to adversely affect the aesthetics of the town,” Mr. Comi said at the meeting. “We would highly consider doing this based on the size and scope of the town.”
Mayor Ferrera said representatives from the Center for Municipal Solution were invited to the meeting to discuss ways of evaluating the need and use of cell towers in the future.
Several residents spoke during the meeting, encouraging the Township Committee to take advantage of the services provided by the center. They said that it would be an appropriate move to look into wireless benefits in the community, as there are several dead zones where cell service is interrupted.

