All over the country, cellular phone companies are seeking out governmental and civic organizations who have a desirable site and are willing to make a deal. The Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996 encourages expansion of the wireless networks.  The FCC projects that by the year 2006 there will be 120,000 antennas nationwide.  In 1997 there were 40,000.  Cell towers have been deemed "inherently beneficial" by the courts and therefore are not always required to abide by local zoning ordinances. Although many people are concerned about the potential health hazard of the microwave emissions from these towers, federal law prevents local governments from using health concerns as a reason for prohibiting them.  Hopefully, future technology will allow for less visible, less intrusive, and less risky wireless communications, and the industry will become more sensitive to the public's concerns about negative health effects.

THE HILLTOP CELLTOWER

In 1995, The Board of Directors of the Erskine Lakes Property Owners Association (E.L.P.O.A.) in Ringwood leased their clubhouse property to Bell Atlantic/NYNEX for a cellular communications facility without notifying any of the nearby residents. The property is located in a densely populated residential zone on one of the most visible ridge lines in Ringwood.  Several members of the Ringwood  Board of Adjustment had to step down from the application hearings because of their connection to ELPOA, most notably Arthur Frietag, Chairman of the Board of Adjustment and President of ELPOA at the time the tower deal was consummated.  Several homeowners formed the Hilltop Neighbors Association to oppose the towers. After much testimony was heard, the remainder of the Board denied the application by a vote of 3 to 1 in October of 1995. Bell Atlantic appealed; Superior Court Judge Passaro reversed the Board's decision citing various comments by Borough professionals who supported the tower proposal during the hearings. The Mayor and Council decided unanimously not to appeal the reversal.

Judge Passaro remanded the case back to the Board of Adjustment for some site plan changes. Bell Atlantic, responding to a citizen’s suggestion, proposed a single, 60 foot pole antenna, disguised as a "tree" (they had originally proposed three 60' antennas to be disguised as "flagpoles"). Although various disguises have been utilized by the wireless companies to pacify opposition, the results are debatable. Bundles of black wire from a nearby utility shack enter the trunk through a coarse brown "bark."  All too symmetrical artificial branches attempt to hide the three antennas at the top. Some residents still fear the potential health hazard from the microwaves emitted. The character of the clubhouse property, which is rented out for parties and weddings, and the surrounding neighborhood, has been comprimised.

Update 12/3/98: The Hilltop tower has been operating for over a year and already the “tree”  has fallen into disrepair. The imitation bark and pine needles have deteriorated and there is no indication of maintenance. A fence between the tower site and a nearby neighbor that was required by the Borough in response to the remand by Judge Passaro  has never been built.

During the initial application hearings, the Hilltop Neighbors group warned that new technologies and business arrangements would create new needs for these transmitting stations. Bell Atlantic has already approached ELPOA for co-locating another carrier on the Hilltop tower. The current Board at ELPOA has taken a stance to oppose any future expansion. We commend ELPOA for taking this position.

(E.L.P.O.A. tower, lakeview)

THE TOWER ORDINANCE

In 1996, the Ringwood Borough Council passed an ordinance entitled  "Communications Facilities As A Conditional Use". CLEAN was glad to see the Council pass an ordinance meant to control the location of future towers.

Unfortunately, despite reassuring words from Borough officials during its drafting, this ordinance provides no relief for the neighborhoods now dealing with towers. The Borough also has a poor record of enforcing its own ordinances. The ordinance also has a potential side effect: the vagueness of its wording might attract new types of facilities, rather than merely direct cellular applications to specific sites. More immediately, over the objections of residents this ordinance allows for antenna heights of up to 120 feet and a minimum of only 500 feet from residential zones. Such height, with obvious visual impact, is unacceptable for the natural environment we enjoy in Ringwood.