East Brunswick residents who live near the site of a proposed cell tower are raising concerns that the structure will be an eyesore and will negatively impact their property values.
T-Mobile, which proposed the 120-foottall cell tower at Christy’s Florist on Route 18, has testified before the township Zoning Board of Adjustment at two meetings earlier this year, with many residents coming out to voice their disapproval. The board is expected to vote on the application tonight.
During a May hearing, the board asked T-Mobile representatives to produce more sufficient evidence that the chosen location is the only site that could provide optimal service. As a result, T-Mobile’s radio frequency engineer, Naem Asghar, conducted an on-the-road study to measure service deficiencies in the area.
“We have other cell tower sites in town, as you can see,” Asghar said during an Aug. 19 hearing while showing the board an exhibit of the coverage areas. “But even with these other sites, we still need to cover the gap in the proposed service area. The board requested that we bring back real data, so we drove into the area and collected it.”
The engineer said he conducted the study on July 28 using a typical T-Mobile cell phone, which was hooked up to a computer in order to send out consistent calls and record the coverage results. The study found that service was poor or non-existent in the area near the proposed cell tower.
The board had also requested in May that the applicant seek out other possible sites for the cell tower. However, T-Mobile attorney Constantine Stamos said other businesses were not receptive to the proposal. He noted in particular that T-Mobile sought out the East Brunswick Rescue Squad building on Cranbury Road, but was informed that the facility did not have room for the structure.
In addition to such testimony, T-Mobile planner and engineer Christopher Neville presented the zoning-related aspects of the application. He said the site plans have been revised to adhere to parking requirements and drivewaywidth. He also said it would be possible to expand the compound to accommodate a larger turning radius for the refuse area and to create a loading zone.
Although the application is in need of a height variance, the structure will have no substantial detriment to the public good, according to Neville.
“There’s no glares, no obnoxious odors, no traffic generation, no secondary development. There’s obviously a visibility factor associated with the placement, but we tried to place it in an intensively developed area, and we’ve used a stealth pole to diminish its presence,” he said.
But residents were not convinced that the cell tower would have a minimal effect.
“I believe the term used to describe the tower was a stealth tower. Is it invisible to radar? Yes. Is it invisible to the naked eye? Of course not,” said resident Robert Tagliente. “This is not in the best interest of the township. The people can’t reject it. You [the zoning board] are our representatives. You need to protect the citizens of this town.”
Resident Nicole Lento Oken attended the hearing on behalf of her 89-year-old mother, who lives in the neighborhood behind Christy’s. She said her mother already has difficulty paying her taxes, and the cell tower would only diminish her property value.
“I’m just asking you to go back and look at alternate sites, maybe ones owned by the township, so that the revenue could give something back to the community,” she said. “These are difficult times.”
Resident Leann Boyle agreed, also raising the concern that the tower would put the health of her family at risk.
“I’m emotional about this issue, because I have something at stake. The health of my family, the property value of my home — and that’s not to mention it’s a visual eyesore,” she said. “Have they really proven it’s for the greater good?”
Christine Conlon said the proposal is another example of the township not properly serving the residents.
“Keep it away from a residential area,” she said. “I’m very frustrated with the way my neighborhood has gone down, and this is only going to make it worse.”
Township Councilwoman Camille Ferraro also attended the hearing and discussed the impact she believes the cell tower will have on the surrounding area.
“Is this for the greater good of T-Mobile or of the public?” she asked. “I believe the benefit of the township comes first. This will have a tremendous impact on real estate value, which will in turn have an impact on the township as a whole.”
Ferraro explained that if property values decrease, tax revenue also decreases, and the township suffers.
“Do we want to continue this? I’m asking, for the sake of this town, to not set this precedent. It’s way over the top,” Ferraro said.
The board’s meeting tonight is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Town Hall.