Borough of Point Pleasant Beach JANUARY 10, 2019 SPECIAL MEETING
The January 10, 2019 Special meeting of the Board of Adjustment opened at 7:30pm. The clerk read the notice of compliance with the "Open public meetings act." Present were Board members: Mr. Spader, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Dixon, Mr. LePore, Mr. Davis, Ms. Crasper and Chairman Struncius
Absent – Mr. DePolo and Mr. McGee
Minutes
Motion by Mr. Schneider, second by Mr. Davis to memorialize the minutes of December 6, 2018.
In favor – Kelly, Reynolds, Struncius, Davis and Crasper
Opposed: None
Application #2018-30 – T- mobile Northeast LLC – 501 – 503 Richmond Avenue – Block 90: Lot 23 – Applicant wishes to install a rooftop wireless facility downtown in the GC district.
Frank Ferraro attorney for applicant gave outline of proposed application.
Frances Boschulte, Radio Frequency Engineer, sworn, credentials accepted, stated that the applicant needs to construct these antennas in order to close a gap in their service. She explained that T-Mobile doesn’t have reliable service in the higher frequency bands. The existing temporary antennae located in Little Silver parking lot is 60 feet tall but cannot fill the gap coverage in the proposed site. The applicant proposes to reduce the gap coverage by providing more reliable service with the new antennae’s.
Mr. Schneider questioned if this location will service more than one company. Frank Ferraro answered that this application is just for T-Mobile but that it could accommodate other companies. Dennis Galvin stated that co-location is favored.
Mr. Dixon stated he would favor a large tower by the train station because he can see other companies now coming and wanting to add their antennae’s. Frank Ferraro stated that they looked at other locations. Vice chair Reynolds said the law guides you to public lands. Frank Ferraro stated he cannot speculate on public land. Dennis Galvin stated they had a meeting and the First Aid Building was suggested but there is no room in that location.
Dennis Galvin stated that maybe they have something that can screen the antennae.
The applicant’ agreed to reduce the antennae to 6 feet in height.
Nick Barile, applicant’s engineer from Comex Consultants, sworn, credentials accepted, stated that the location is a tall building which will provide better service. Chairman Struncius asked him to cut to the chase and explain how the antennae will be screened. Nick Barile referenced Boards A-10, A-11 and A-12. Mr. Reynolds inquired where the landlord of the building is. Dennis Galvin stated he does not need to be here. Vice Chair Reynolds questioned if the applicant will be able to make changes without coming before the board. (No) Chairman Struncius stated that the ones on the boardwalk are much smaller. Frances Boschulte, replied that they are small cell and do not cover all the frequencies. Chairman Struncius questioned if the screening will match the building in color. (Yes) Vice Chair Reynolds stated that no sings shall be placed on the screening.
Nick Barile stated that he applicant proposes a fully contained wireless telecom facility on top of the building which will include a 10 foot by 20 foot steel platform that will store the equipment on the southern edge of the building and four antennae’s in three different sectors for a total of 12 antennae’s. Eleven of which will be located on the northeast and west corners and one of the antennae’s will be adjacent to the platform in the southeast corner. Total proposed roof coverage is 3.2%.
David Karlebach, Professional Planner, sworn credentials accepted, that the proposed location of the equipment is to be on the roof of the building with a height of 30 feet. David Karleback testified that the antennae’s will be screened and not obstructive. The antennae will be in a commercial zone and will be located 470 feet away from the nearest residential zone. Multiple locations were researched. Exhibit A9 entered – aerial photograph of area. David Karlebach stated that there are not really any tall buildings in the area. It is very flat land with very low buildings. He reviewed the ordinance. Location of equipment requires a variance. Building height is 30 feet – flat roof – no opportunity to have equipment at grade level. Height limit is 10 feet above height of building so we need a variance for that. Antennae’s will be 42 feet 8 inches above grade where 30 feet is allowed- believes site is appropriate for this use. This precludes the need to build a new tower in the area. Site will not require municipal services; no traffic impact accept for maintenance visits. No significant noise or fumes. This advances many purposes of the Borough’s wireless ordinance. The board should feel very comfortable granting the D3 variance. Reading from ordinance 19-12.A-1 – minimize towers and encourage use of existing buildings and towers before constructing new towers. Mr. Spader inquired if this could be added to the town property. T-Mobile is saturated on the water tower and still needs this additional site. The water tank is too far away from this area. Mr. Kelly clarified that they will have 3 operating locations in the summer – (DK) correct.
Mr. Reynolds clarified what the board would be voting on. Chairman Struncius said we should see exactly what we will be seeing prior to memorialization.
The Board was concerned about the aesthetics of the antennae being they will be located at a busy intersection. The applicant showed that they could screen the antennae with a faux wall. The applicant agreed to use 6 foot tall antennae instead of 8 foot.
The Board found that the antennae’s will have a positive impact on the neighborhood because it will provide better service o the residents, businesses and emergency services of the neighborhood. The Board was pleases that the antennae will be located in a commercial zone instead of a residential zone.
Deliberations
Spader – Loved presentation – my questions were satisfied. Preference would have been the water tower. Minimal intrusiveness. Problems were solved – color matching. Would have opposed a bunch of antennae’s on a roof. Supportive of it with conditions in place.
Kelly – I have seen several of these – each has been presented well. Emergency was having a lot of trouble in the summer with signals. Change on boardwalk has helped. It will become better with G5. Still waiting for Verizon fiber optics. Original drawings concerned me but the screening will be more attractive.
Dixon – Obviously there is a gap – presented well. Main concern is the town should have been notified to see if there are any available spots. More of these will be showing up. Town could be making a profit if they set up a location on municipal property.
Reynolds – Great presentation – I was also thinking of a tower somewhere. The town fathers obviously do not want additional towers. Screening makes all the difference in the world.
Schneider – Doesn’t appear that cell phones will disappear anywhere in the near future. Understand the need for the antennae’s. As far as the ordinance reads they are not looking for new towers. Screen walls to conceal it are nice. Benefits outweigh the detriments.
LePore – Appreciation for counsel and the witnesses and their professionalism. Always appreciate learning something new.
Davis – Additional screening really helps the application. The exposed antennae’s are really are an eye sore. Still not sure that other sites have been adequately addressed. Not quite certain about the positive criteria.
Crasper – My initial review – going through the documents and pictures I had a big issue with the antennae’s – but the boards were extremely helpful and aesthetically it made a big difference. So I am in favor of the application.
Struncius – I think Ray should talk to Mayor and Council about the contradictory things in the ordinance. I would mind a fake tree sitting back by Public Works on town property back by the railroad tracks where you dump debris. If a fake tree was sitting back there by the tower I think it might work. When we sit and talk about number of utilities who are going to come and need a place to go there could be a future use for something that may not at the time the ordinance was developed was going to address the fact that you might have multiples of these. Right now we have one single one coming in – there is kind of a discrepancy right now – someone should look into it so we have better direction in the future. Believes it might not interfere with anything in that back area. It is a conditional use because the site is undersized – one of the big issues is a safety concern. It will need to hold this thing safely. Aesthetically everyone is comfortable with the screening drawing – but I want to know exactly what it will look like. They should submit the drawings prior to memorialization. The need was shown and the way you addressed the need questions were answered. In the big picture more utilities will come in and someone should address that so we have answers in the future.
Conditions
- The generator is only to be exercised weekdays between the hours of noon and 3 p.m.
- In the event that this technology becomes obsolete, the applicant will remove this equipment and restore the roof.
- The final faux screening plans and design are to be reviewed and approved by the Board prior to memorialization.
- No advertising shall be placed on the stealth material.
- Antennae’s will be reduced to 6 feet from 8 feet.
Motion by Mr. Spader second by Mr. LePore to approve Application #2018-30 of T- mobile Northeast LLC – 501 – 503 Richmond Avenue – Block 90: Lot 23 – with conditions
In favor: Spader, Kelly, Dixon, Reynolds, Schneider, LePore and Struncius
Opposed: None
Meeting adjourned at 10:45 pm
Attest: Karen L. Mills, LUA
Clerk of the Board
