Cell Tower Location Still Debated In Township

Washington Township residents came out to Monday night’s council meeting to speak out on the ongoing issues concerning potential cell tower locations. During the previous council meeting on June 25, Township Attorney Kenneth Poller announced an alternative location for the tower near the Dog House Saloon, after residents objected to the original location next to the municipal complex.

Several residents questioned the council’s choice for the alternate location, pointing out that there are many less populated areas in the township that could have been chosen.

Council President Fred Goetz reiterated that a bid has already been awarded to Verizon for the current location next to police headquarters at the municipal complex, and that Verizon was “very gracious to actually allow us to entertain an alternative site.”

“There were alternative areas prior to the original bid going out, and those were rejected for various reasons,” said Goetz.

Washington Township resident Mitchell Rosenthal questioned the transparency of the council to keep the public informed of the cell tower’s status. Goetz maintained that litigation and contract negotiations cannot be made public.

One resident suggested that if the tower must be constructed, that the council push to make it look as acceptable as possible, as several other cell towers in the area have been made to look like pine trees. Others suggested that no matter the location or decoration, the tower will still be “an eyesore to our community.”

“I haven’t seen another town in Bergen County [that] has a cell tower right in the middle of their main thoroughfare,” said township resident John Marchese of Hoover Avenue.

David Snyde, a resident of Windsor Circle, proposed the idea that if the governing body decided to go against Verizon and the two proposed sites, alternative cell phone carriers might vie for any available private property in the township to put their own towers on.

Rosenthal pointed out that about 20 trees would need to be cut down at the alternative site near the Dog House in order to make way for the tower.

Resident Pete Russo of Wilson Avenue said that the tower just keeps getting pushed from one neighborhood to the next.

“Let’s just get going with it, put it up [at the municipal complex]. It belongs up here,” said Russo. “I honestly believe you will not see the tower as badly from the road driving by on Pascack Road at this location versus the other locations. To clear all those woods to put the cell tower [at the alternative location] is just a wrong decision.”

The next council meeting is scheduled for July 25.