March 23, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Franklin Lakes T-Mobile seeks approval for monopole in borough by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Board of Adjustment has begun a public hearing on TMobile Northeast LLC’s application to construct a 130-foot high wireless communications monopole adjacent to the Urban Farms Shopping Center’s northwest rear wall. According to Boswell McClave Engineering, the borough’s engineering firm, the monopole would have six panel antennas mounted on the top of the pole with space available for two additional wireless carriers to co-locate in the future. The plan also calls for the installation of a nine by 14 foot platform with screening on top of the shopping center roof to hold equipment related to the antennas on the monopole with a cable bridge and cable trays leading to the proposed platform and a building top access ladder with a lockable cover and cage. The platform would be accessed by way of a ladder with safety chains and there would be two 90-watt floodlights on a timer in the area of the cabinet equipment shelter. T-Mobile has requested a variance from the borough’s zoning code, which requires a cell tower facility to be in excess of 300 feet from a residential zone or a public recreation facility. The proposed tower would be just under 157 feet from the nearest residentially zoned property. According to a borough ordinance, the monopole must be certified by a qualified expert who verifies that the tower has sufficient structural integrity to support the proposed antennas after construction. T-Mobile’s professional engineer has concluded there are no wetlands or wetland buffers within the area of the proposed Scouts reach out Girl Scout Troop 1202 from Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes recently helped out at the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation’s outreach center in Midland Park. Each member of the troop brought a bag of groceries to help fill the pantry. The girls watched a short film about how the center provides food and monetary assistance to families with children who have cancer. ORGANIC LAWN & SHRUB CARE “Improving the Environment, One Lawn at a Time” Featuring The Natural Green Solution 201-447-3910 ������������ ���������� Beautiful, Environmentally Responsible, Affordable, Organic Lawn & Garden Care FREE ESTIMATES • 100% Organic and tested for 20 years • Safe for kids, pets, and family • Nearly eliminates phosphates and nitrates • Reduces carbon footprint • Not connected to petroleum costs • Less water needed improving drought tolerance • Greatly improves root development • Natural weed suppression • Natural insect suppression including grubs • Natural fungus and disease suppression • Address the ecology of the entire lawn tower, but the borough’s engineering firm has recommended that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection be asked for verification as the Pond Brook is in close proximity to the subject property. The brook traverses the shopping center property from the southern property line on Franklin Lake Road to a culvert located within High Mountain Road, which borders the shopping center site to the north. Edward Yorke, T-Mobile’s radio frequency engineer, recently told the zoning board of adjustment that the cell tower is needed to provide adequate transmission coverage to the area of the borough south of Route 208. He provided the board with color-coded maps describing the coverage provided by several other T-Mobile cell towers in other areas of the borough and adjacent to the borough. According to Yorke, several bodies of water in the borough absorb radio frequency signals in the borough and the hilly terrain prevents radio signals from reaching beyond Ewing Avenue to the east from the T-Mobile antennas that are attached to a cell tower at Ramapo High School. Several residents of Feather Lane, which is located just west of the shopping center property, have indicated that they object to the location of the cell tower. They will not be able to formally express their objections until the application is fully presented to the zoning board. Gregory Meese, the attorney for TMobile, has advised that several other locations were investigated for this monopole, but his client was unable to reach an agreement with the owners of those properties. The public hearing is expected to continue at the April 7 meeting of the zoning board. of pH Adjustment with Each Visit with Seasonal Contract 4 FREE APPLICATIONS 10% Off 10% Off Not to be combined with any other offers. Exp. 4/30/11 Pesticide License #98008A ������ ������ Seasonal Lawn Care Not to be combined with any other offers. Exp. 4/30/11 NJHIC License #13VHO3311000 Tree & Shrub Care