By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — A crowd of concerned residents asked the Planning Board Wednesday night to block a proposed wireless communications facility on an existing electrical tower in their neighborhood.
A hearing was held on the minor site plan application for a T-Mobile facility proposed at a tower located southeast of the intersection of Penn-Lyle Road and Cedar Court. The tower is within a utility right-of-way that passes through a residential neighborhood, and stands about 200 feet from the nearest home along Cedar Court. A township bike path runs alongside the right-of-way.
The proposal would include nine wireless communications antennas attached to the existing 111-foot tower, which would extend the height a further 6.5 feet.
At the base of the tower, a compound consisting of cabinets for the communications equipment would be surrounded by an 8-foot fence made of fake shrubbery, called “permahedge.” The applicant’s attorney, Richard Lemanowicz, said there would be no lighting that would shine on neighbors.
The Planning Board heard from several experts hired by T-Mobile, but decided to continue the hearing until it was provided further information.
Township planning consultant John Madden said the primary detriment he sees to the application is the aesthetic impact of the compound on the residential neighborhood.
Unfortunately, PG&E does not allow for landscaping around the tower to soften the look, he said.
”The issue is whether this is the most benign solution to the provision of cellular service,” he said.
Township landscape architect Dan Dobromilsky said the hedge, which resembles the limbs of a fake Christmas tree, would look real from a distance.
”This in my opinion is the best option,” he said. “I don’t think you’ll see the ground level equipment.”
Mohammed Alsamna, a radio frequency engineer and consultant for T-Mobile, testified to the Planning Board that the pole selected by the company would be the only existing tower that could fill a gap in coverage that extends about 2 miles north to south and 5 miles east to west. It would also be the least intrusive, he said.
”It’s in a good location, an existing site, and it fills the gap,” he said.
Douglas Cowan, a planner, testified that there are no other existing electricity towers the company could use to fill the gap that would be significantly further from homes.
A new tower would be more intrusive “by orders of magnitude,” he said.
Mr. Alsamna said putting in new wireless communications facilities is very expensive, and T-Mobile would not look into building a facility unless it was necessary. He was unable to rule out the possibility that T-Mobile would ask for another facility in the future.
Planning Board Chair Marvin Gardner said that a report on the health implications of the tower could not be admitted into evidence at the hearing because the expert that prepared it was not present. Mr. Lemanowicz said the expert would testify at the next hearing.
However, Mr. Alsamna testified that radio frequency emissions from the tower would be well below FCC and state regulations.
Several residents spoke during public comment, asking for more time to investigate the impact that the facility would have on their neighborhood.
Jane Lifset of Woodbury Court, located just south of the proposed facility, referenced township ordinances that limit cellular antennas to 55 feet in residential neighborhoods.
”It seems to me that the 111 feet wasn’t something the township ever approved, but something the utility imposed on us,” she said.
She asked the board to retain experts on the impact that the facility would have on the real estate values of homes located near it.
Jennifer David of Penn Lyle Road said her home is in full view of the tower, which already has made selling her home difficult in the past.
”What it seems to me is that you’re going to put an ugly hat on an already ugly woman,” she said.
She added that she uses a T-Mobile cell phone, and has never had a problem with the service.
”So I don’t really buy it,” she said.
Mr. Gardner said the township is going to look into hiring an electromagnetic safety expert to analyze the report provided by the applicant. The board also requested data on dropped calls and other problems with service in the area.
”There are a host of issues, and it’s going to require considerable time,” he said. The hearing is scheduled to continue on May 27.

