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Politics & Government

Cell Tower Plan Advancing to Planning Board

Verizon proposed to build a 120-tower in the township's Municipal Complex.

The Washington Township Council voted in favor of moving ahead with plans for a cell phone tower at the during their meeting Monday.

The plan is for Verizon to build a 120-foot monopole tower with external antennas on the north side of the complex. There would also be two sheds and an eight-foot white vinyl fence that would be designed to fit in with the style of the complex.

"They look somewhat Colonial," Council President Richard Hrbek said.

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The tower itself would be similar to the one built near the Garden State Parkway, officials said.

Verizon earlier this year.

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Catherine Navarro-Steinel, the township's , said she was also looking into having a shared backup generator for the tower and the police department. The township has rented a generator for the department at about $1,500 per month since the department's old generator overheated and after Hurricane Irene.

"We're looking to save money in the long run," Navarro-Steinel said.

With the council's go-ahead, and a recent approval of soil tests by the Department of Environmental Protection, the next step for the tower will be a review by the planning board.

Some residents have , but over the past few months residents attending council meetings have repeatedly asked about how soon the tower will be built.

"I just want to know if it will go up in my lifetime," township resident Raymond Bernroth said at a previous council meeting.

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