New Jersey
Wireless Edge, a Verizon affiliate, wants to build a 130-foot monopole near Governor Livingston High School, but residents are opposed to the build and its accompanying variances.
The Berkeley Heights Board of Education met last week, and the zoning board met on June 23, and both meetings had residents in opposition with petitions and vocal opinions. At the zoning hearing, Verizon Planner David Karlebach said “a variance from the requirement to build the tower on township-owned land was not needed because the school body, which owns the proposed tower site, also is a township body,” according to TAPinfo.net. Additionally, Karlebach noted that the tower would have to exceed the maximum allowed 125-foot height “to allow space for police emergency transmission equipment” that is going on the monopole.
The board of education adopted amendments at its meeting to the lease with Verizon providing for the emergency equipment variance. Residents met that meeting with more than 400 signatures on two petitions, according to TAPinfo.net. While the board thanked residents for their concerns, there were no plans to reverse the agreement, which was a done deal after “several public meetings of the school board” that were held prior to the lease approval.
Additionally, the board noted that there was a legally required notice given to property owners within 200 feet of the proposed site, which will be next to multiple athletic fields close to Route 78. The school body also consulted with a separate planner not affiliated with Verizon to approve the site location.
TAPinfo.net reported that the school board said it needs the tower “to provide a ‘predictable and effective’ means of communication for school officials during emergencies at high school events.” While considering small cell technology, the board found the pole to be the most effective means to accomplish this goal.
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