file photo Boyd Loving
New cell tower pops up in Ridgewood without approval
Thursday January 23, 2014, 3:36 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Two summonses have been issued in relation to an AT&T cell phone tower that popped up on Franklin Turnpike several months ago without the approval of Ridgewood’s zoning board.
Not only was the roughly 100-foot tower placed there without approval, but no one on the zoning board, the approval entity for cell towers, was aware of it until last week.
On Thursday, an AT&T representative told The Ridgewood News that the company is aiming to find a permanent location for the tower.
The tower in question is temporary, standing on a trailer at the Exxon Mobil gas station on Route 17, behind a building located at 609 Franklin Turnpike.
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Pop them with a big fine for every day its in operation.
I’m floored that the Village hasn’t demanded the structure be removed immediately. If a resident had one of these in their driveway, all hell would break loose.
Rutishauser can spot an illegal 2′ x 4′ contractor’s sign on a front lawn from 6 blocks away and issue an immediate summons, but misses a 100 foot cell tower? I smell a deal being brokered between the Village and AT&T.
The Village engineer isn’t the one who does ‘code enforcement’.
Its apparent you don’t like him but at least be accurate when you’re trying to
‘tar and feather’ someone.
I “think” the hang up is the cell tower is mobile and not a permanent structure, so even if the village changes the ordinance the mobile tower is there already so It might be grandfathered in.
Interesting point, but the town should ‘argue’ that it cannot operate on a road with the tower ‘extended’. So if they want to use that ‘mobil’ nonsense, they can show it move on the road. Same logic would apply if someone brought in a mobil home with a license plate on it (vs the ‘campers’ that are prohibited)
If the cell company tries that one, I’m sure every municipality would back Ridgewood in any lawsuit.
I think that ATT knew exactly what they were doing. They needed a permit.
Just because it is mobile doesn’t mean that they get a pass. There will be no grandfathering. The village can have it removed.
Circumventing the law does not give you “grandfather” status.
No one from the town noticed the tower which has been up over 4 weeks??I agree #2.The town searches DAILY for the smallest violation like a sign on YOUR OWN LAWN. They missed a cell tower?? Something is going on here. By the way, make sure you get your garage sale permit too!!
Tell them to get the homeowners with the illegal signs on Clinton St. ITs starting to look like Hopper ave in Waldwick!
There are no village employee’s riding around looking for sign violations, they don’t have to The town is loaded with resident’s who call up the cop’s or building code official’s for the slightest perceived transgression. Many of the complaints are not actual violations because there is no ordinance prohibiting the act. There have been wicked disputes between neighbors over a tree house, but if the residents don’t call how’s the town going to know.
Maybe the employees were told to lay off by the high ups.
#11 that’s unlikely as it would be neglect of duty, and if there was financial gain, or done to harm or injure someone it would be official misconduct that’s a 2nd degree crime. But stranger things have happened.
But your cell coverage is better right? lol