A n application before the Edison Zoning Board of Adjustment to construct a cellular communications tower has drawn criticism from some residents.
Verizon Wireless, the applicant, is seeking use and bulk variances to install a 90- foot monopole with antennas, a generator and equipment at 1745 Route 27, the Festival Plaza, in the township’s general business zone. Improvements on the lot already exceed the permitted amount of coverage, according to the application.
The proposal came before the board on Jan. 28. The public hearing is scheduled to continue at the board’s 7 p.m. Feb. 25 meeting at the municipal complex, 100 Municipal Blvd.
Some who oppose the plan have formed a group — whose website is stopcelltower.org — to push for a denial from the board. The founder, CT Irving, said he and his neighbors are concerned that the cell tower’s perceived health risks would cause property values to plummet.
“Most homebuyers faced with a choice between buying a home next to a cell tower [or not] would make the obvious choice,” he said. “So, there is less demand for homes next to cell towers, and less demand equals lower property values.”
Irving, who owns a home on nearby Knapp Avenue, said other areas in Edison would be more suitable for a cell tower.
“I would hope [Verizon] would consider other areas, such as the former Camp Kilmer or areas near railroad tracks that are farther away from homes,” Irving said.
A representative of Verizon said the company is committed to improving its wireless network throughout New Jersey so that customers may receive reliable service. Cell towers do not pose a hazard to the health of neighbors, as ground-level power levels are much weaker than the federal government’s limit, the representative said.
“Cellular technology has been in commercial use for over 30 years. Today, cell antennas are so commonplace that they can be found in churches, hospitals, shopping malls, office buildings, schools, stadiums, museums, subways, airports and even the halls of Congress,” the representative said.
The tower would benefit few individuals, including the owner of Festival Plaza, to the detriment of nearby residents, Irving said.