Mahwah cell tower a step closer to reality after almost two decades
MAHWAH — Construction has begun on a concrete foundation for a permanent cell tower on the Fire Company 3 property off Rozanski Lane.
"The foundation for the pole has been poured, approved, and is now curing for the next couple of months," Borough Administrator Ben Kezmarsky said Tuesday. "While that cures, they will work on the rest of the site as well as the trenching for the utilities."
A cell tower to service a 2-mile-wide dead zone on the township's northern border has been the subject of debate among township officials, residents and providers since at least 2005. Township officials initially sided with nearby homeowners who opposed proposals for a tower looming over their houses. However, officials eventually were convinced the tower was necessary to benefit emergency service vehicle communications, as were residents, who had largely given up landlines in favor of wireless.
An estimated 5,300 residents are affected by the dead zone. Multiple studies indicated the tower would be most effective if built on Fire Company 3 property.
The need for better reception was highlighted in August 2019 when a Grenadier Drive resident was attacked by a coyote walking near her home. Her cellphone call for help was diverted first to a New York state police station and then to the Bergen County call center before she reached Mahwah police. She was rescued through a neighbor's Wi-Fi connection she had stored on her cellphone from previous use.
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Even when township officials finally agreed to build a tower at Fire Company 3, they encountered a series of delays. The first consultant hired was declared in default when they failed to locate carriers while the state's Department of Environmental Protection assessed the site for wetlands. A second consultant found carriers, but construction was put off by a series of neighbor lawsuits. COVID restrictions also delayed studies and construction supplies.
A temporary 150-foot tower was activated on the site in May 2021 to mixed reviews by residents, depending on the quality of their reception. At 183 feet, the permanent tower is expected to provide better reception, but it will still be affected by the area's trees and hilly terrain.
The tower initially will be shared by AT&T and Verizon, although there is room for two more carriers. FSD Enterprises LLC, owned by state Sen. Declan O'Scanlon, is serving as the consultant on the project.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mahwah cell tower is a step closer to reality after almost two decades
