Saturday, March 14, 2009

The Westfield Leader 03/12/2009

Cranford Cell Tower Ruling Appealed by Omnipoint
CHRISTINA M. HINKE
March 12, 2009

CRANFORD – David Weeks, the attorney for the Cranford zoning board of adjustment, told The Scotch Plains- Fanwood Times he filed a response recently denying the allegations in the recent appeal of plaintiff Omnipoint Communications, Inc., which was denied their joint application under the name New York SMSA Limited Partnership, also formed with Verizon Wireless, New Cingular PCS, and Sprint Spectrum (which pulled out mid-way through the hearings), to build a 120-foot monopole on the border of Cranford and Westfield to close the gap in cell phone coverage in the area.

In December, the board had denied the application to build the tower after hearing cases made by both the applicant and those opposed of the monopole that went on for over a year.

Omnipoint appealed that the board’s decision to deny the application was “arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable and otherwise without basis in law or fact...” The complaint noted that “there was no competent expert testimony or other evidence disputing any of Plaintiff’s testimony or evidence, only net opinions unsupported by any factual analysis or study.”

It said the Cranford Swim Club property situated in a residential zone was the “only available site” to erect the tower and was the “least intrusive.”

Mr. Weeks called it “a standard, routine appeal.” He has not received a court date from the Union County State Superior Court, but surmised that the court would hear the case in six to nine months.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Local Source: Cranford News 03/11/2009

Tower: Verizon Appeals
By Paul Greulich
March 11, 2009

CRANFORD, NJ - Less than three months after the local Zoning Board denied an application seeking height and setback variances to erect a 120-foot-tall cell tower on the Cranford Swim Club property, Verizon Wireless, has filed an appeal in superior court

The applicant hopes to overturn the board’s decision.

The lawsuit was filed Jan. 29. Within a few weeks, the Zoning Board filed a response denying the allegations. “We believe the board made a sound decision, and its decision should be upheld,” said Zoning Board Attorney David Weeks.

Board Chair Robert Hellenbrecht did not return repeated calls for comment. Verizon Attorney Gregory Meese could not be reached for comment. CSC is closed until summer and no representatives were available.

The application process has spanned more than a year, drawing significant opposition from Cranford and Westfield residents.

State and county officials also opposed the site as a location for a cell tower due to environmental concerns.

The board unanimously opposed the plan on the basis there might not be a gap in coverage and that the tower would have a negative affect on the surrounding parks and residences. “Cell towers can be located anywhere, but you can’t move a park,” Zoning Board member Jeffrey Pistol said.

Weeks said the appeal did not come as a surprise. “Cell tower companies typically appeal any decisions they lose before local boards,” Weeks said.

No date has been set for the proceedings to begin. “The court will have to make a determination,” zoning officer Robert Hudak said. “I’m guessing that’s the next step.”

Paul Greulich can be reached at 908-686-7700 ext. 121, or at editorial@thelocalsource.com.