Cellular Tower Proposed Between Palisades Avenue & Jones Road, facing Brayton and Lincoln Streets

Englewood is “the city that never sleeps.” Now AT&T Wireless wants to erect a cellular tower 4 feet in diameter and about 60 feet in height depending on the elevation. Then they plan to construct a shelter next to it which is the size of a house that could fit a mule or a small horse to house a motor with a huge a fan that no doubt will produce noise 24 hours a day.

At the Board of Adjustment meeting on Thursday, November 21, AT&T’s lawyer and engineer presented this incredibly ugly and out of place proposal for this tower in the heart of a residential zone. Our Co-president Eugenia Vogel questioned the engineer's testimony and asked who selected that site. At first the engineer said he did, but later admitted he had never been on the site. A few minutes later he said a real estate team had selected the site. If approved it will be placed at 240 Palisade Ave. touching Jones Road in the Englewood Village Apartments grounds. This cellular tower will be facing homeowners on both sides of Palisade Ave. and Jones Road and will be visible from houses on all side streets in the surrounding area. Because of its height it will be seen by almost all homeowners not only in the East Hill but also in other areas in Englewood.

First Ward Councilman Douglas Bern cut short his 3-day conference of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities to attend this meeting. He opposes the construction of this tower in any residential zone. The meeting ended close to midnight and it was well attended by homeowners who were advised on very short notice to attend. Second Ward Councilman Michael Wildes also questioned the engineer about possible health hazard issues.

The EHOA stands for the preservation of our residential zoning and opposes building any commercial structure that will destroy the character of our residential neighborhoods. The Board of Adjustments took this matter seriously and requested all kinds of experts representing them in order to understand if there is really a need for such cellular tower in this particular residential area of Englewood.

We have spoken to several homeowners who have AT&T cellular phones and none of them had any problems with reception on Palisades Avenue and Jones Road. We encourage our elected officials to pass an ordinance against placing commercial antennas, monopoles and cellular towers in the residential neighborhoods of the city. The next meeting will take place on January 16, 2003 at the Court House. Please attend! If we do not strongly oppose the cellular tower, it will be seen from hundreds of windows and backyards. Without a doubt, home values will suffer.

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