Balloon Test to be Conducted at Library

With a settlement possible, T-Mobile will be conducting a balloon test to determine if there is a possibility for constructing a cell tower in a location other than the Green Knoll Fire House.

The zoning board, in May 2012, denied an application from T-Mobile to build a cell tower at the fire house. T-Mobile subsequently filed suit against the township.

According to a letter filed April 5 with the United States District Court in Trenton, the township and T-Mobile are in the midst of discussing a possible settlement, which would identify municipal-owned property as a possible location for the monopole facility that was denied by the zoning board.

But before the township will consent to the settlement, the letter said, it has requested that a balloon test be conducted on the property.

That test will be held at the Bridgewater Township Library Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

According to a post on the township website, the reason for the test is to “determine the visual impact of a cellular tower at the library site should an alternate site be chosen.”

“This is the first step in the lengthy process of seeing if an alternate solution can be offered,” the website says.

The test is necessary to determine if a settlement is viable given the parameters of what is needed by T-Mobile to provide coverage in the area.

“T-Mobile is conducting the test to gather information to see if an alternate location is even possible,” the website says.

A settlement conference on the litigation has now been adjourned until June 19.

What do you think of the test, and the location that has been chosen? Do you think the library is a good site for the tower?