Zoners reverse decision and approve cell tower (NJ)

Zoners reverse decision and approve cell tower
BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer


HOLMDEL - The Zoning Board of Adjustment reversed an earlier ruling and approved an application to place a cell tower antenna on top of the water tank on Deer Path Road at the Feb. 13 meeting.

The storage tank, known as the Manzo Tower, will be the site for ninepanel antennas owned by Sprint Spectrum LP.

The original application for placement was denied by the Zoning Board on Sept. 13, 2006.

Spectrum appealed the denial in state Superior Court, and Judge Louis Locascio ordered that the matter be remanded to the Zoning Board to hear additional testimony and reconsider its denial of the application.

The applicant had originally filed for several variances, including a use variance to locate the cell tower in an R-40B residential/agriculture zone, and a height variance to allow placement on the 140-foot water tower when zoning ordinances set a maximum building height of 35 feet.

Also, Holmdel Township zoning requirements do not permit wireless telecommunication sites within 1,000 feet of an existing residential lot and the property adjacent to the tower is a residential lot.

The applicant also applied for waivers for the required driveways to remain the existing 12 feet wide, where the required minimum is 25 feet for two-way traffic. Other variances included that sidewalks are required but none are proposed for the site.

 

"Holmdel Township zoning requirements do not permit wireless telecommunication sites within 1,000 feet of an existing residential lot"

You've got to be kidding me! In most cities it's only 300 or 400 feet.