Bad Reception: Sprint's Variance Requests Denied for Cell Tower on Schooley's Mountain

More than a year-and-a-half after bringing its application to the Washington Township Board of Adjustment, Sprint had its variance requests denied for a proposed cellular service tower on top of Schooley’s Mountain.

Sprint had proposed to put its tower on the Centenary College Equestrian facility on Califon Road, and would be in the shape of a windmill. The tower was proposed to stand 171-feet tall.

Two variances were denied by a 4-1 vote at the most recent zoning board meeting, including landscaping (the applicant sought to plant trees and shrubs closer to adjacent properties rather than near the tower itself), and the proposed setback line.

That line, by town law, is required to be 240 feet, according to zoning and planning secretary Barbara Margolese, but Sprint was seeking a variance to be just 130 feet from the nearest property.

While the variances were denied, it is not yet known if Sprint is hanging up on the proposal or trying to reconnect, Margolese said.

Sprint maintains the option to appeal the decision, but has not said if it will do so or not.

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