New Cell Tower Planned at the Sewerage Treatment Plant

"No one likes to look at a cell tower," stated Peter Messina, Bernards Township engineer, as he updated the Sewage Authority during the December 15 meeting, "but we all like our cell phones to work," concluded Sewerage Authority Chair Mary Pavlini, finishing his sentence.

And, if it's done properly, maybe it won't be that unsightly. This is the hope of Pete Messina, who is working with T-Mobile on the feasibility of placing a cell tower on the Sewage Treatment Plant property at 762 Martinsville, Rd., just off Route 78, at exit 33. 

"We would put it smack in the middle of the property," explained Mr. Messina. The closest, private building would be 740 ft. away. To minimize the visual impact, Messina is proposing a 150 ft. high tower (which is less than the height of a previously approved tower) with flush-mounted antennas (as opposed to antennas that extend outward). Residents can view a similarly designed cell tower at the Visiting Nurse Association on Mt. Airy Rd.

While the Sewerage Authority was initially in talks with T-Mobile, they now have the added interest from ATT and Verizon who would share the tower with T-Mobile. To get a better sense of the aesthetic impact, the town has requested that T-Mobile perform a crane test at the location.

T-Mobile would place a crane at the specific location and set it at a height of 150 ft.  Residents would be advised ahead of time and would then be able to drive around and assess the crane. A little work with Photoshop on a photo of the crane test, substituting the crane with a cell tower, and the sewerage authority would have a rendering of what a cell tower would look like at that location.

At this time, the authority is waiting to hear back from T-Mobile on whether they will move forward with the crane test. If things do progress, Messina hopes to have a bid out in January, a vote by the Authority and a contract award in February. The winner would need 3 to 4 months for construction and the cell tower could be up and running by June.

Financially, the cell tower benefits the town and residents in two ways. The Sewerage Authority would realize more than $75,000 annually, which would then result in rate reductions for sewer users in Bernard Township. The township would benefit from property taxes the cell phone companies would pay on the plant and equipment.

While no one wants a cell phone in his or her backyard, the increasing demand for mobile data applications does require infrastructure development. Cisco projects a 129% compound annual growth rate for mobile data over the next five years in North America. Access from cell phones or smartphones to the Internet must first pass through cell phone towers.