North NJ wants Cell Coverage But Cell Towers

[jones]

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?...VFeXk3MDc1OTA3

We want cell service, but not ugly towers
Sunday, February 11, 2007

By GIOVANNA FABIANO
STAFF WRITER


Cell towers have stirred up controversy across North Jersey, with residents' concerns running the gamut from potential health risks to the possibility that unsightly towers could lower property values.

But nearly everyone has experienced this maddening scenario: You're driving along chatting on your cellphone when suddenly you hit a dead zone. The person on the other line starts sounding as incoherent as Charlie Brown's mother, and then the call gets dropped.

Cellular companies say they are bombarded with complaints from customers when service is spotty.

"We file an application for a cell tower when there is a definite need. We're just trying to fill in the coverage gaps and accommodating the concern of residents in the neighborhood," said Joseph O'Neill, an attorney for Omnipoint Communications, also known as T-Mobile.

But residents who suddenly have to share their neighborhood with a tower that can top 150 feet aren't feeling so lucky.

Is there a solution, or is this simply one of many "not-in-my-back-yard" debates?

Here are some of the most recent proposals to make waves around North Jersey:

Alpine

Two cellular companies have asked the borough for permission to build a cell tower disguised as a 120-foot flagpole behind the borough's firehouse, near recreational fields. More than 80 residents have signed a petition opposing the plan. If built, the "flagpole" would be taller than the Sandy Hook Lighthouse or a full-grown blue whale standing on end. It would be just 31 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty.

Fair Lawn

Residents near the Veterans of Foreign War Hall are banding together to fight a proposed 62-foot cell tower on the organization's property.

The plans call for the cell tower to be hidden inside a flagpole outside the Fair Lawn VFW Post 281 on Morlot Avenue. Zoning in that neighborhood caps building height at 30 feet. Residents use words like "monster" and "eyesore" to describe the structure.

Oradell

T-Mobile is seeking to install a cellular tower in the heart of the borough, a move that has already raised concerns from some uneasy neighbors.

The tower could theoretically bring the borough as much as $2.5 million over 25 years, assuming that at least two other wireless carriers decide to make use of it.

Ringwood

After a lengthy court battle, cellphone towers will rise across this Highlands town's scenic ridgelines.

During extensive hearings in 2004, a Sprint representative said antennas may be needed at six more sites in the mountainous community to provide coverage in dips along main roads and in residential areas.

The initial site, privately owned, is on Countryside Lane near the Cradles to Crayons Child Care center. Officials at the nursery school have come out against the towers, noting that parents are worried about potential health risks.

[Fire14]

Welcome to NJ and the land of the NIMBY, BUT I want coverage wherever I am.
What's even more insane, is the people fighting the flagpole towers, they don't look bad & provide some "Pride of our Country" along with giving the coverage.

How in the world can these people get educated, about the health risks & land values?

[Quint101]

Wirelessly posted (Q's Mobile Device: SCH-A930 UP.Browser/6.2.3.2 (GUI) MMP/2.0)

Originally Posted by Fire14

Welcome to NJ and the land of the NIMBY, BUT I want coverage wherever I am.
What's even more insane, is the people fighting the flagpole towers, they don't look bad & provide some "Pride of our Country" along with giving the coverage.

How in the world can these people get educated, about the health risks & land values?

I had to laugh at the lunacy. When will the people learn? I'm glad i'm in the SE

[chuikov]

I think one of the problems with places like Paramus, Oradell, Lodi, West Orange and Fair Lawn etc is that these places are densely populated and just sprawl right into one another. They have urban densities, but they don't have a bunch of tall buildings like, say Hackensack does. There's tons of customers, but very few open areas for towers, but also few existing tall structures.

There scores and scores of these little municipalities and sometimes I think they just want to push the towers into the next town but still benefit from the coverage. it's just a nightmare area to get enough sites.

But anyway, that nonsense about the blue whale is just ridiculous.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by chuikov

I think one of the problems with places like Paramus, Oradell, Lodi, West Orange and Fair Lawn etc is that these places are densely populated and just sprawl right into one another. They have urban densities, but they don't have a bunch of tall buildings like, say Hackensack does. There's tons of customers, but very few open areas for towers, but also few existing tall structures.

There scores and scores of these little municipalities and sometimes I think they just want to push the towers into the next town but still benefit from the coverage. it's just a nightmare area to get enough sites.

But anyway, that nonsense about the blue whale is just ridiculous.

And I think the other big part of this is, these are towns where all the big money homes are, the people with all the money & power, you would think they would want better coverage.

[hf1khal]

Originally Posted by Fire14

And I think the other big part of this is, these are towns where all the big money homes are, the people with all the money & power, you would think they would want better coverage.

I ahve bee noticing that incertain areas where it is a NIMBY i(in LI) service has been improving (at least on Cingular) as now I do have service in streches where before no carrier had service. may be NJ might end up the same as we now have here. But in all hensty, teh NIMBY needs to give a litle and not be so hot headed as I realy do not see why they would oppose a flag pole as compared to the old style tower.