Unapproved Cell Tower Prompts Summonses from Village

Officials have issued two summonses to property owners over a cell tower that has been maintained in Ridgewood without any approvals from the village.

The temporary AT&T cell tower stands on wheels adjacent to an Exxon Mobil gas station on Route 17 south, near Franklin Turnpike in Ridgewood. According to a neighborhood resident who earlier this month brought the portable tower to the attention of the village council and zoning board, it has been there for roughly three months.

“I haven’t been able to get any information on this cell tower that just appeared in the village next to the 120-foot cell tower that’s already there,” Diane Haderthauer said during public comments at a Jan. 15 council meeting.

Village officials say the roughly 100-foot tower really did just appear.

Ordinance requires zoning board approval of a new cell tower, and the municipal code prohibits towers rising above 75 feet from being in close proximity to each other. According to Chris Rutishauser, the village engineer, AT&T never went through the required approval process.

He issued a summons each on Jan. 17 to the property owners of the Exxon station and the nearby cell tower for modifications without a site plan approval.

A spokesperson for AT&T did not respond to questions regarding the exact purpose of the temporary tower or the length of time the company expects to maintain it at the site. They did not comment on its installation without zoning board approval.

"AT&T is currently working with the town of Ridgewood to find a permanent location for a new cell site," the spokesperson said. "In the meantime, equipment has been brought to a temporary location to provide cell service for our customers in the area."

In an email, Rutishauser said AT&T was “trying to maintain the 4G service that the other tower can’t support.”

Though officials had little information on the cell tower when the issue came up earlier this month, Heather Mailander, the acting village manager, said the company would be required to seek approvals should the structure be maintained long-term.

[Ed. note: This story was updated to include comment from AT&T.]