T-Mobile Cell Tower Contract Awarded in Township

Chatham Township Committee approved the temporary cell tower at Esternay Field by a vote of 4-1.

A contract for a temporary cell tower was approved by the Chatham Township Committee by a vote of 4-1 at their Thursday meeting. "The contract is for two years," Attorney Carl Woodward said, with two possible six-month extensions. Because the field is part of the township's Open Space inventory, the state Department of Environmental Protection will not allow a cell tower to remain in the field for more than three years. The tower will be located in Esternay Field where a children's playground is currently located. As part of the contract, T-Mobile will replace the playground with new equipment when the tower is taken down. T-Mobile initially proposed and was the sole bidder for the tower. Engineers from T-Mobile told the committee at a …

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Cell Tower Up for Discussion Thursday

The township committee may introduce ordinance for the cell tower as early as Thursday's meeting.

The proposed cell tower at Esternay Field is up for discussion at the Chatham Township Committee meeting Thursday. Residents have voiced strong opposition to the temporary cell tower, which, if approved, will be installed in Esternay Field where a children's playground is currently located. The Chatham Township Committee approved a public bid for the tower at their Sept. 27 meeting by a vote of 3-1. The tower was proposed by T-Mobile, whose experts told the township that an area of about 1.3 miles in eastern Chatham Township and New Providence would lose service if the tower was not installed. T-Mobile usually puts its cell towers on top of PSE&G towers. During PSE&G's North Central Reliability Project, they have to remove their towers and…

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Cell Tower Goes to Bid, Despite Residents' Concerns

Chatham Township Committee should get guarantees cellular companies will go back onto PSE&G towers at the end of the contract, residents say.

The Chatham Township Committee approved a temporary cellular tower in Esternay Field for public bidding by a 3-1 vote Thursday, despite the disapproval voiced by residents. The tower was proposed by T-Mobile, whose experts told the township that an area of about 1.3 miles in eastern Chatham Township and New Providence would lose service if the tower was not installed. T-Mobile usually puts its cell towers on top of PSE&G towers. During PSE&G's North Central Reliability Project, they have to remove their towers and find alternative locations. Two such locations currently exist in Chatham Township, one at Colony Pool and one at the Chatham Township Municipal Building. T-Mobile hopes to put a third near the playground at Esternay Field. …

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T-Mobile Cell Tower Lease Up for Committee Discussion

The Chatham Township Committee meets Thursday.

The Chatham Township Committee may discuss the possibility of putting a temporary cellular tower at Esternay Field when they meet Thursday. T-Mobile previously entered into an agreement with a resident of River Road to place their temporary cell tower on residential property, but the exact location was in a conservation easement. Neighbors objected vehemently at the committee's August meeting, and the Chatham Township Committee decided T-Mobile needed to find a different site. At the Sept. 13 meeting, Attorney Carl Woodward said upper Esternay Field, near the power lines, was a suitable alternative location for the tower. "It's graded and flat," he said. The tower will be a 150-ft. monopole located in an enclosed area of about 30 ft. by 30…

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Letters to the Editor

Resident Opposed to Temporary Cell Tower

The Chatham Township Committee will discuss a possible cell tower at Esternay Field Thursday.

To the Editor:   This Thursday, Sept. 27, the Chatham Township Committee will discuss a “possible ordinance or resolution” for a “temporary T-Mobile cell tower lease at Esternay Field.”  Essentially, the Township Committee is considering whether to allow T-Mobile to remove the upper playground at Esternay Field and, in its place, install a “temporary” T-Mobile cell tower. The 150-ft. cell tower and it’s equipment trailer will look much like the “temporary” cell tower that currently sits next to the Chatham Township Municipal Bldg. In exchange, the Township will receive a fee of approximately $3,000 per month.   I’m writing this letter to ask residents to urge the Chatham Township Committee to reject any additional T-Mobile “temporary” cell…

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Attorney Calls Esternay a 'Good' Site for Cell Tower

The Chatham Township Committee has a few conditions before they will agree to let T-Mobile put a temporary cell tower at Esternay Field.

Chatham Township Attorney said he believes T-Mobile has found an alternative site for their temporary cell tower. "They're looking at upper Esternay Field, by the power lines," Woodward said. "There's a small playground up there. It's graded and flat, it's a good location for this tower." T-Mobile, along with AT&T, have cell towers located on top of existing PSE&G utility towers within Chatham Township. During PSE&G's North Central Reliability Project, the mobile companies needed to find alternative temporary cell tower locations so their customers do not experience any loss of service in the area. Both companies have entered into previous agreements with the township to construct temporary cell towers in town. One, located near Colony …

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