150-Foot Cell Tower On Route 202 Approved By Bridgewater Zoning Board

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater Zoning Board approved a new 150-foot wireless tower on Route 202 after hearing testimony that removing existing antennas from a nearby New Jersey American Water tank without a replacement would leave a service gap in the area.

The CX Tower Leasing application sought preliminary and final site plan approval with use and bulk variances to construct the new 150-foot cell tower.

The tower application comes after New Jersey American Water, the owner of the water tank at 719 Route 202, directed
wireless carriers that have antennas on its tank to permanently remove them.

"New Jersey American Water has stated that the reasons for this directive include structural stability, security, and operational logistics, as its primary mission is providing public water, not wireless communications," according to a report from CX Tower.

Attorney David Kenny of Snyder & Snyder, representing applicant CX Tower, told the board at the July 14 meeting, "there is a need for this facility that if the water tower removed the existing antennas from that structure without a replacement, there would be a significant gap in service created in this area, particularly along Route 202."

Kenny also said the structure would house equipment for T-Mobile and Verizon, along with space for other carriers operating in the area.

Civil engineer Mike Patel, a managing director with Tectonic Engineering, testified that the existing compound at the water tank is about 400 feet from Route 202 and sits within a 100-by-100 lease area.

He said the plan was to enlarge the fenced compound to fit a new pole.

"The plan is to expand that compound by about 500 square feet so we can place the 145-foot pole structure to hold the antennas when they're re-relocated," Patel said.

Patel testified that the zone allows a maximum height of 45 feet, while the proposed structure would reach 145 feet to the top of steel, with a 5-foot lightning rod bringing the requested variance to 150 feet.

The board planner said the application required a D1 use variance because cell towers are not permitted in the C7 zone, a D6 height variance for the 150-foot structure, and bulk variances for front and side yard setbacks.

Testimony also covered fencing, lighting, drainage and access.

Patel said a letter already submitted to the record stated there would be no negative impact on slopes or drainage patterns from the pole.

Testimony indicated no new lights were proposed, and existing maintenance lights at ground equipment areas, if present, would be used only when technicians are on site in low-light conditions.

The applicant also agreed to satisfy a fire official's request for a Knox Box, and the site would continue using the existing gravel access drive from Route 202 with no new access road proposed.

The board approved the application with conditions, including FCC radio frequency compliance, FCC-approved equipment, no lighting at the top of the tower, ground-level lights used only when technicians are on site, an on-site meeting with the township engineer, and a Knox Box for the fire marshal.

The vote was unanimous among the Zoning Board members.

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