Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • January 27, 2010 Mahwah Metro receives approval to add antennas to monopole by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Board of Adjustment has approved the co-location of six cellular antennas on the tree-style monopole located at the rear of the 6.76-acre commercial property owned by the Paulist Press publishing company on Macarthur Boulevard. The new antennas Metro PCS New York, LLC plans to install are 55 inches high, 12 inches wide, and three inches deep. They will be located at a height of 126 feet on the existing monopole. In addition, four equipment cabinets will be located on a seven-foot by 18-foot concrete pad on the property, which is located in the controlled economic development zone where monopoles are a conditionally permitted use. Sprint Spectrum, LP owns the monopole, which is camouflaged to blend in with trees that are now on the property. That company received board approval to construct the monopole in April 2007. The monopole is capable of holding the antennas of four wireless carriers with associated equipment and cabinetry, and it is located at the rear of the property in a wooded area and is not directly visible from the street, although it rises 85 feet above the tree line. Marlene Eickmeyer, an attorney representing Metro, elicited testimony from David Weinpahl, an engineer who designed the telecommunications site. Weinpahl described the antennas and equipment cabinets that would be located near the base of the monopole, and the rear and side yard setback variances that would be required. Dan Penesso, a radio frequency engineer, described the existing and proposed coverage that the antennas will provide for Metro. He advised that Metro is also seeking cellular antenna approvals in other areas in order to obtain seamless coverage in Mahwah. Mark Nidle, a radio frequency compliance expert, testified that the radio transmission from this site will be two-tenths of a percent. He explained that this figure, which is 600 times below the Federal Communications Commission’s requirement and below the level of the state’s regulations, would be comfortably within compliance. Ron Reinertsen, a professional planner, testified that the additional antennas would pose no impact on the public and would not be visible, especially in the summer when the trees are fully leaved. He pointed out that the township’s ordinance regarding cellular communications encourages co-location of cellular antennas and since there would be no visual impact, the antennas would meet FCC-related goals, and there would be no impact on the township’s zoning plan, the application meets the positive and negative criteria to grant the variances requested by Metro. When Sprint applied for approval to construct the monopole in 2007, the company agreed to use a tree-style structure previously recommended by board member William Dator. At that time, Dator explained that a tree-style monopole is located near his property in the Adirondacks. The tree is manufactured by The Holbek Group, a Massachusetts-based company that designs and builds educational and entertainment exhibits, and stealth concealment “monopine monopoles” for the concealment of wireless transmission equipment. The Holbek design takes into account the type of trees in the particular area where the monopole will be located, and the structure meets all the requirements for wind resistance and ice. Dator pointed out after the board’s unanimous vote to approve the Metro application that this is the first time this tree has been used in this area. Truck weight (continued from page 7) the ordinance for buses and delivery and passenger trucks defeats the primary purpose of the ordinance. He said, “That exception swallows the rule.” Kelly responded that he stands behind his recommendation to adopt the ordinance limiting trucks on that section of Ridge Road to a maximum of six tons. He acknowledged that the data about the bus traffic on that road may have been on the low side, meaning there are less truck vehicles on that road, but he said, “That does not change my position that the interaction of trucks and vehicles on a road serving four schools and a library is not a safe condition.” Kelly supported the exceptions in the ordinance for buses and delivery vehicles on Ridge Road, saying that many weight reduction ordinances have those exceptions. He also said, in response to one of Lott’s objections, that the ordinance would have no effect on Route 17, which is designed to handle truck traffic. But he agreed with Lott that the NJDOT would have to approve the ordinance before it could become effective. In response to another of Lott’s objections, Boswell said the Borough of Ramsey does not have to approve the ordinance because there are no restrictions on the southern end of Ridge Road near that borough, and he said he did not think the ordinance was arbitrary and discriminatory by preventing access to the Pilot site because trucks will still be able to access Pilot’s property from Route 17. Boswell told the council that eliminating large trucks on Ridge Road would provide more safety for pedestrians and inexperienced drivers, and it would prolong the life of that road. Following the meeting, Lott explained that Pilot opposed the ordinance because its six ton vehicle weight restriction is not supported by the township’s own engineering analysis, and is inconsistent with various provisions of Title 39, the state motor vehicle code. “Notwithstanding my client’s objection to this ordinance, Pilot intends as soon as possible to construct its new service station and eliminate its Ridge Road driveway in accordance with the approval recently granted by the Mahwah Zoning Board of Adjustment,” Lott said. “In the meantime, Pilot thought it advisable to oppose this ordinance because it may present an inconvenience to its patrons and it does nothing to improve the overall safety of Ridge Road for the general motoring public and the adjacent schools.” Dental Implants Dental Implant � $995 Post $545 Crown $695 ������� 40% Off ������������������ After ������ Holiday �������� Sale ���� everything in the store ������� until February 1st �������������� $2235 Total ������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ �������������������� �������������� •����������� Hudson Jeans • Butter • Ed Hardy • Pinc �������������� • Us Angels • Little Mass • Le Tout Petite �������������������������������� • 7 For All Mankind ����������������������������� ������������������� ������������������������ �������������������� ���������� 201.847.8243 ������������ ������������ ������������������������������ ������������������������������ ������������������������������ ������������������������������� ������������������������������ Call today for your free consultation! 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