UPDATE Late last year, the town of Westfield, NJ approved plans to build a cell tower on the grounds of the Westfield Conservation Center. This decision did not sit well with Scotch Plains neighbor David Munsky, who has filed a lawsuit to stop proceedings, reports TAP Into Westfield.
Munsky’s challenge calls the town’s decision “arbitrary and capricious” and claims the 130-foot height exceeds the 33.5-foot limit allowed in residential areas. To back up his stance, he pointed to a 1964 agreement between Westfield and Scotch Plains saying the Conservation Center property would not support “industrial” use.
The lawsuit contends that Westfield’s decision is an imposition of its Scotch Plains neighbor, who does not want to see a cell tower looming over his property. “For whatever reason, Westfield has chosen to lease and erect the tree monopole in an area that will have the most impact on the abutting residential communities in Scotch Plains, rather than the initially proposed location, which would not have had such significant impact,” the lawsuit notes.
“We don’t want to impact our operations. We want to be mindful of the neighbors there,” said Westfield Town Administrator Jim Gildea, reports TAP Into Westfield. “I’ve spoken to the administrator in Scotch Plains. The mayor has spoken to their mayor and, yeah, they’re aware of what’s happening.”
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