Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • May 5, 2010 Area The application to erect a telecommunications monopole at the Sears Hardware location at 80 Godwin Ave. in Midland Park will have first dibs in front of the Midland Park Board of Adjustment. Testimony on the proposal is expected to begin in front of the board at a special meeting tentatively set for May 19 at 6 p.m. Burgis Associates, the borough’s planning consultant, determined in a report filed with the board in February, that Omnipoint Communications’ proposal for 44 Godwin Ave. “is more intrusive to the residential neighborhood than the proposal submitted by Verizon Wireless.” The two wireless companies had submitted similar applications to the board for 90-ft. high monopoles in the B-3 zone: Omnipoint at 44 Godwin and Verizon at 80 Godwin. The board suggested that the two companies Planner finds Sears lot more suitable for monopole could get together and share a monopole and asked Burgis to analyze the applications to determine which site would be more favorable to the community. The shared monopole would be 110 feet tall and require larger equipment that a single locator. Burgis reviewed the applications from a land use planning perspective only. The report notes that at 44 Godwin, the monopole and accompanying equipment compound would be set back 121 feet from Godwin Avenue, in the center of the parking lot within the landscaped island. Ten homes and all or part of 12 lots are located within 270 feet of the proposed monopole. “It is rather clear that the proposed pole will be rather conspicuously visible and prominent in the landscape, especially when viewed from residential areas adjacent to the proposed monopole,” the report says of the 44 Godwin site. ATT’s communications antennas are mounted on top of a three-story office building on the property as well, and the electronic equipment which services them is located north of the building. At 80 Godwin Ave., the Verizon monopole disquised as Garden State Is your landscape tired? Are you looking for some quality work? Call today for free, no-obligation estimate. Landscape LLC a flag pole is proposed to be located 121 feet from Godwin Avenue behind the bank building and 157 feet away from the nearest home. The property has access to Erie and Rea avenues in addition to Godwin, and several parking spaces would have to be relocated from the front to the area north of Sears. The report recognizes that locations which are appropriate to close gaps in service are limited and also calls for creative buffering solutions, but points out that a use variance is required nevertheless. It suggests that a shared monopole located at the municipal complex and equipped with antennas from both carriers might be a reasonable alternative. In January the borough council asked the two carriers to consider municipal property for their antennas. Borough ordinances permit cellular communications antennas on town property only; any other location requires a use variance from the board of adjustment. Although the Verizon application will advance first in front of the board, there is no guarantee that it would be approved. Regardless of the outcome, Omnipoint would not be precluded from pursuing its own application, according to board attorney Douglas Doyle. Fire Chief (continued from page 3) The last several years have been very difficult economically for the country, state, county, and the Village of Ridgewood. There’s no question that this year may well be the most difficult year, financially, the fire department has ever faced. Doing more with less has been the way all fire departments have been operating as a result of these problems. “You may rest assured that my decision to retire was not a decision made lightly. Many of you have been extremely helpful and supportive to me as chief of the Ridgewood Fire Department over the last 10 years.” He added, “My brother Mark, who worked in the administration office when no other officer would, was a tremendous help to me and the fire department at that time.” Bombace concluded, “I will always be thankful to each member of this department for their support and to the Village of Ridgewood for the honor and privilege of serving as director and fire chief of the Ridgewood Fire Department.” Some of the services we provide... • Patio Installation • Retaining Walls • Shrub and Tree Plantings • Perennial Gardens • Weekly Lawn Maintenance • Drainage Work A FULL SERVICE LANDSCAPE COMPANY 201-670-7641 Franklin Lakes Antique & Collector Car Show and Flea Market The 35 Annual th Across from Urban Farms Shopping Center Franklin Lake Rd., Franklin Lakes Sunday, May 30, 2010 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Rain or Shine http:/ /clubs.hemmings.com/jlrvcca/ May 26th Edition of The Villadom TIMES A Special Section... featuring the annual car show & flea market, will be inserted in the You are invited to participate by including your advertising message in this pull-out section. 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