Mahwah welcomes 'stealth monopole' disguised as a tree to ease cell service dead zone

Marsha A. Stoltz, NorthJersey.com
·2 min read

MAHWAH — The township's long-awaited "stealth monopole," disguised as the trunk of a pine tree, has arrived on Rozanski Lane.

The pole to be installed on the property of Fire Company 3 will hold mobile phone service antennas to relieve a 2-mile-wide dead zone on the township's northern border.

Borough Administrator Ben Kezmarsky confirmed Wednesday that sections of the 183-foot-tall pole were being assembled on site. It will eventually replace the 150-foot temporary transmission pole activated in May 2021.

"Once the pole is up, the antennas and equipment will be added," Kezmarsky said."In the coming weeks, work will commence on connecting the utilities. Weather and materials permitting, we are still on schedule."

Simulated pine bark surface on base of monopole visible as it is installed on Rozanski Lane in Mahwah.
Simulated pine bark surface on base of monopole visible as it is installed on Rozanski Lane in Mahwah.

Initially, the pole will be occupied by antennas serving AT&T and Verizon customers, according to consultant Declan O'Scanlon of FSD Enterprises. He expressed hope that FSD would eventually add T-Mobile/Sprint and Dish Network as additional carriers, but there was no immediate word how or when those companies would be added.

While the permanent tower is 30 feet higher, O'Scanlon cautioned in November 2020 that "topographical issues" and trees could still interfere with the reception in isolated cases, and that the carriers may eventually have to fill in dead spots with other technology.

Permanent monopole arrives at Fire Company 3 on Rozanski Lane in Mahwah.
Permanent monopole arrives at Fire Company 3 on Rozanski Lane in Mahwah.

The pole will be "disguised" as a pine tree with artificial branches similar to one at the Allendale exit on Route 17.

Warmest NJ winter?NJ had record high temperatures, low snowfall this winter. What's ahead for spring?

The dead zone affecting an estimated 5,300 residents has been the subject of ongoing proposals and complaints since at least 2005. Not only residents, but police, fire and ambulance vehicles were unable to communicate in the area.

Monopole sections unloaded behind Fire Company 3 in Mahwah.
Monopole sections unloaded behind Fire Company 3 in Mahwah.

While initially siding with neighboring residents who objected to the tower in their backyards, Township Council eventually switched allegiance to the growing number of residents attending their meetings demanding cell service.

The monopole's installation was approved in September 2019. However, COVID-related delays, neighbor lawsuits, and administrative glitches have all contributed to the lengthy installation schedule.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mahwah cell service dead zone to be relieved by 'stealth' pole