January 18, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • Page 13 Borough to defend appeal for cell monopole The Midland Park Borough Council will back the board of adjustment against an appeal by Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile Northeast, LLC of the board’s decision to deny the variances necessary for the cellular communications carriers to build a flagpole-style cell tower at the Sears shopping center at 80 Godwin Avenue. Following a review of the pertinent documents by Borough Attorney Robert Regan, the governing body decided that the board has a strong case in denying the application. Board of adjustment attorney Doug Doyle, who advised the board through the proceedings, will represent the board in the lawsuit. Verizon and T-Mobile were seeking permission to construct a 120-foot high tower at the Sears site, a 3.196-acre parcel in the B-3 zone. The zone allows business, retail and office uses, but a use variance was needed because borough ordinances require wireless communications facilities to be located on property owned by the borough. In its Feb. 23, 2011 decision, the board voted 4-3 in favor of a 110-ft. high tower, since that had been Verizon’s original request before the board suggested the two companies co-locate their antennas on a single tower. The vote, however, was in fact a denial, because five affirmative votes were needed to approve the use variance request. In its decision, the board found that the property was already overburdened and would require a number of additional variances, including one for parking, if the monopole were sited at the proposed location. The equipment pads needed to support the monopole would eliminate parking spaces and exacerbate the parking shortage in the popular shopping center, the board said. Verizon filed its original application in July 2009, and was joined by co-applicant T-Mobile in March 2010. When Verizon made its application, T-Mobile was already seeking approvals for a cell location at 44 Godwin Avenue, which is located across Rea Avenue from the Verizon site. The zoning board asked its planning consultant to review the applications and make a recommendation as to which site could accommodate both carriers. The borough’s professionals recommended 80 Godwin as the preferred site, and the two companies subsequently filed a joint application. The companies’ equipment enclosures would have been located next to the tower in an 18-foot by 40-foot area. In their civil action suit, the cellular carriers claim they demonstrated there was no municipally-owned land that could have been used for the tower that would have met their coverage objectives. The applicants also state that their experts investigated alternate sites for a tower, but found there were no existing structures that would meet their goals, no other sites were available and suitable for a facility, and any alternate sites would also require a use variance. Brownie points Midland Park Brownie Troops 106 and 468 recently collected baby items for two shelters in Paterson: Eva’s Village’s Hope Residence for Mothers & Children and Oasis: A Haven for Women & Children. The girls collected new baby items, including clothing, toys, bottles, pacifiers, bowls and spoons, bath items and toiletries, nursing items, diapers, and receiving blankets. Some of the girls also set up a table outside the local A&P to ask for donations. The girls were overwhelmed with generous donations from the community and thank everyone who participated for their support.