Politics & Government
MetroPCS Planning Cell Tower Above Westwood Theater
The Westwood Zoning Board began hearing testimony about the project at their meeting Monday.
MetroPCS began presenting testimony to the Westwood Zoning Board for their plan to build a new cell phone tower on top of Monday.
The plan calls for a 25-foot faux smokestack to be built on top of the theater, which will have a combined height of about 70 feet. Some equipment would also be housed in an old projector room.
According to Reginald Jenkins, an attorney representing MetroPCS, the tower would help improve their service. MetroPCS has previously attempted to gain space in other cell towers in Westwood, including the nearby tower at the , but so far has been unsuccessful, Jenkins said.
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"MetroPCS currently has a significant gap in its coverage in the Westwood area," Jenkins said.
The plan requires several variances, including one for the use, which is not permitted in the Central Business District, and one for the height, which exceeds the allowed 30-foot limit in the zone. Jenkins said he believed the height and use actually conformed with zoning ordinance, but MetroPCS would not be appealing the need for variances because of the time involved in the process.
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Engineer Robert Toms also testified about the plan. Toms said the project will not create any obtrusive noises or smells for the surrounding area.
"It's not a nuisance in any way," Toms said.
The tower will be surrounded by a screen that allows cell phone signals to pass through but makes the tower look like a smokestack that matches the brick of the theater.
Board Chairman William Martin expressed concern about adding another cell tower on Center Avenue.
"I haven't seen too many theaters from this era with huge smokestacks coming out of them," Martin said.
Toms said he believed it would look appropriate with the back side of the theater, which he described as looking more "industrial" than the marquee in the front. He also said 10 feet would need to be added to the fire department tower in order to fit their antennas at a sufficient height.
Jenkins said they would have preferred to not have to build a new tower, but he believed they would nto be successful in bidding for space on any of the existing towers in the borough.
The hearing is scheduled to continue at the board's August 6 meeting.
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