Alternate property may be considered for cell tower

By MARK ROSMAN
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — The question of where to place a cellular communications tower remained unresolved at a recent meeting of the Freehold Township Zoning Board of Adjustment.

However, representatives of New York SMSA Limited Partnership (Verizon Wireless) revealed they may have an alternate site for the proposed 120-foot-tall monopole.

Verizon Wireless is seeking municipal approval to construct the monopole (a single tube tower) on a 1.91-acre parcel in a residential zone at 391 Monmouth Road (Route 537) near Francis Mills Road and Blueberry Hill, Freehold Township.

The monopole would be contained in a 50-by-50-foot compound that would also contain a 12-by-26-foot equipment shelter, according to previous testimony.

The cell tower is not a permitted use on the land that is zoned for low-density residential development. Verizon Wireless is seeking a use variance for the facility.

A radio frequency expert representing Verizon Wireless previously testified that the company currently has antennas at five locations in this section of Freehold Township and in neighboring Millstone Township and Jackson.

The proposed tower on Route 537 will fill a gap in coverage on Route 537 and Francis Mills Road in Freehold Township, and on Paint Island Spring and Stillhouse roads and several other streets in Millstone Township.

During an Oct. 22 hearing, real estate appraiser Mark Tinder completed testimony he began on May 28. Tinder concluded his presentation by saying the Verizon Wireless application would not have the potential for negative impacts on property values near the proposed cell tower.

Tinder said that throughout New Jersey, there does not appear to be a negative impact on properties from installations of this type.

Professional planner William F. Masters Jr. testified on behalf of Verizon Wireless and said the property at 391 Monmouth Road is ideal from a technical perspective, is close to major traffic corridors, is a relatively remote property with significant vegetation that would serve to hide the cell tower, is a location that has no need for tree removal and one that has a willing landlord.

Following a short recess and under questioning from attorney Lynne Dunn, representing Verizon Wireless, Masters informed the zoning board and members of the public that the owner of a 6.36-acre property at 363 Monmouth Road has now expressed interest in possibly allowing the cell tower to be constructed at that location.

Masters said the owner did not respond to an initial letter from Verizon Wireless when the company was contacting property owners in this part of Freehold Township. He said the property is heavily wooded, but has been cleared in the central portion and he said that area could accommodate a cell tower.

Because the property at 363 Monmouth Road is zoned for residential uses, the proposed cell tower at that location would still require a use variance and a height variance to be granted by the zoning board.

Masters said the cell tower at 363 Monmouth Road would be about 870 feet from the closest occupied home and about 640 feet from the closest unoccupied unit.

Previous testimony regarding the property at 391 Monmouth Road indicated that the three closest homes are 290, 360 and 360 feet away from the proposed monopole and that there are no other residences closer than 500 feet to the tower.

Masters could not complete his testimony regarding 363 Monmouth Road because Dunn needs to present testimony from a site acquisition professional who was unable to attend the Oct. 22 meeting.

The Verizon Wireless application was carried to Dec. 10 and attorney Dennis Galvin, who represents the zoning board, said it is hoped the matter can be concluded that evening.

Some residents who live in this area of Freehold Township have indicated that they object to the construction of a cell tower at 391 Monmouth Road. They have not had the opportunity to state their views regarding the possibility of the cell tower being built at 363 Monmouth Road.