No To The Bogert's Ranch Estates Cell Tower

To:  Township of Mahwah Zoning Board

To: Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Township of Mahwah

We, the following citizens, residents and community advocates of the Township of Mahwah and all relevant neighboring communities at large do hereby:

OPPOSE the placement of a 120’ cell tower and adjoining equipment compound to be located on the property of Bogert’s Ranch Estates, 600 Pulis Avenue, Mahwah New Jersey for the following reasons:

1. The proposed cell tower does not belong in any area zoned for Residential Use.

2. The introduction of this structure into the landscape would forever alter the character of the township.

3. A tower 120’ in height is directly out of scale with, and in great contrast to, the natural aesthetics of the surrounding area.

4. It will lower property values of the homes in this residential community, and residents would seek lower tax assessments as a result of this tower. There are various appraiser journals and industry publications that support the arguments of reduced property values and cell phone towers.

5. The Township of Mahwah Zoning Board would need to approve several separate variances to a corporation with no tax advantages to the community. The tax payers would be the ones who suffer; both from an esthetic prospective as well as a valuation prospective.

6. If the Township allows this tower and adjoining equipment compound and facility to be constructed in a Residential Zoned area, the precedent will be set in stone. Many more towers will be popping up, perhaps next in your backyard. The township will no longer have any recourse once a precedent has been set.

REQUEST that the Township of Mahwah Zoning Board:

1. Investigate less intrusive, Non-Residential Zones that would be more suited to house a 120’ cell tower and all accompanying equipment compounds and facilities.

2. Deny ALL variances applied for under the Zoning Board Application including:

A. Permitted Conditional Use – Mahwah ordinance states that no towers or antennas shall be permitted as conditional uses in Residential Zones, unless it is on township owned property;

B. Minimum Side Yard Setback - Mahwah ordinance states that towers must be set back a distance equal to al least 100% of the height of the tower (in this case 120 feet) – the proposed application is only 12 feet from the lot line;

C. Minimum Setback from Residential Zone – Mahwah ordinance states that the minimum tower setback from a Residential Zone shall be 500 feet. The application puts a tower in a Residential Zone.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The No To The Bogert's Ranch Estates Cell Tower Petition to Township of Mahwah Zoning Board was created by Mahwah Cares Inc. and written by Howard Greenberg (mahwahcares@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.