Question of the Week: Cell Towers Not in Ridgewood Back Yards?

If you have an iPhone in the village, you're probably quite frustrated with all the dropped calls, the poor reception and the slow downloading times.

T-Mobile, just bought out by AT&T on Sunday for $39 billion and now the largest wireless carrier in the nation (provided federal approval is granted), wants to put a 145-foot tower at the end of Barnett Place, next to the Ho-Ho-Kus border. The tower would likely provide for better, more reliable service to its significant customer base in Ridgewood for the merged telecom behemoth.

The proposed site would require a zoning variance (cell towers per village ordinance must be in the "OB-2" office building district) as it's currently zoned residential. Neighbors of Mulberry and Barnett (along with a pocket on 1st Street) say the towers could be harmful to their health, the property values, the aesthetics of the neighborhood and the noise of the diesel-powered generators is a nuisance.

The carrier would have to prove there are no other sites in or outside of the village it could put a tower to be granted permission; neighbors plan to fight the application with the zoning board on Tuesday.

What do you think, Ridgewood? NIMBYs crying foul because of property values? Are they exaggerating detrimental health claims? Would you like a 145-foot tower in your backyard? If not, whose backyard should it go?