T-Mobile Application Continues at Howell Zoning Meeting

For the Howell Zoning Board, the application by cell phone company T-Mobile is nothing new as an application to build a tower on the property of Christ Church of Freehold has been in front of the board for

With new members on the panel and with the application having been such a long process the members of the board and the company agreed to start the process over again in January. Monday night's meeting was the second of what figures to be a series of hearings on the applicant's proposal. 

Among the witnesses called on Monday was a property accquisition expert for T-Mobile who discussed the process that went into selecting the Oak Glen Rd. location. The witness said other locations that had been suggested were a water tank near the church and another pole at the intersection of Aldrich Rd. and Route 9.

However, with T-Mobile already having a presence on those sites it was determined they would not be beneficial in the goals of the proposed tower. In addition to the church another potential property that was considered was a horse farm on Maxi Rd. located in the same general area of the town.

After questioning by the board the applicant for the attorney said that in addition to T-Mobile there would be availability for other mobile providers to utilize the site as well for their customers.

A second witness, Gary Musciano, an architect was also called and led to more questions from the board. During his testimony Musciano read a letter from an engineer in terms of the physical structure of the proposed 120 foot monopole.

While he read a letter from a structural engineer following his own testimony at a previous hearing members of the board agreed they wanted to hear testimony directly from an engineer. After objections from a lawyer representing some of the church's neighbors and questions raised by board attorney Ronald Troppoli the letter was withdrawn from testimony.

It was board member Michael Sanclimenti who first expressed a desire to hear from an engineer. "I think there is some uncertainty here, I would like to hear from a structural engineer," he said.

With Valeri Morone serving as acting chair of the board there was general agreement that that was the way to go. Troppoli said the board was within its rights to ask for that additional witness to be called. "The proofs that are required under the municipal land use law as to the use variance as well as the negative criteria is something you folks have to be assured of one way or another," he said. 

The hearing on Monday also included testimony from an expert on animals and the impact that the pole could have on things like bats and birds. Without a structural engineer the applicant was unable to finish their case and the hearing is scheduled to be heard again at a meeting next month.

expert for T-Mobile who discussed the process that went into selecting the Strickland Rd. location. The witness said other locations that had been suggested were a water tank near the church and another pole at the intersection of Aldrich Rd. and Route 9.

However, with T-Mobile alread having a presence on those sites it was determined they would not be beneficial in the goals of the proposed tower. In additon to the church another potential property that was considered was a horse farm on Maxi Rd. located in the same general area of the town.

After questioning by the board the applicant for the attorney said that in addition to T-Mobile there would be availability for other mobile providers to utilize the site as well for their customers.

A second witness, Gary Musciano, an architect was also called and led to more questions from the board. During his testimony Musciano read a letter from an engineer in terms of the physical structure of the proposed 120 foot monopole.

While he read a letter from a structural engineer following his own testimony at a previous hearing members of the board agreed they wanted to hear testimony directly from an engineer. After objections from a lawyer representing some of the church's neighbors and questions raised by board attorney Ronald Troppoli the letter was withdrawn from testimony.

It was board member Michael Sanclimenti who first expressed a desire to hear from an engineer. "I think there is some uncertainty here, I would like to hear from a structural engineer," he said.

With Valeri Morone serving as acting chair of the board there was general agreement that that was the way to go. Troppoli said the board was within its rights to ask for that additional witness to be called. "The proofs that are required under the municipal land use law as to the use variance as well as the negative criteria is something you folks have to be assured of one way or another," he said. 

The hearing on Monday also included testimony from an expert on animals and the impact that the pole could have on things like bats and birds. Without a structural engineer the applicant was unable to finish their case and the hearing is scheduled to be heard again at a meeting next month.