Protect Hopewell Valley and STOP T-MOBILE!
Saturday, February 2nd, 2008
On October 18, 2007, when the Hopewell Township Planning Board unanimously approved T-Mobile’s application which gave them the go ahead to outfit a water tower with antennas, battery packs and wires, a small group of residents came out to question, air their concerns and ultimately fight. This small group of individuals made up of various professional backgrounds and expertise has since grown and has become more educated, informed and concerned about the “oversight” in the township’s ordinance that allowed T-Mobile to push forward (see the blog www.brandonfarmswatertower.com). This group’s sole purpose is to STOP T-Mobile and other cell companies from outfitting their antennas, battery packs and wires on this water tower and to prevent this from happening in any other residential areas in Hopewell Valley. We do not all have impressive credentials but we do have a lot in common. We are families, young and old, with and with out children, who are outraged, concerned and very disheartened over this issue. The water tower, a.k.a The Brandon Farms Water Tower, is smack in the middle of the most densely populated residential area in all of Hopewell Valley. Let’s not forget that a 500-student elementary school/playing fields are located within 500 feet of this Water Tower.
There are many reasons for all of Hopewell Valley residents to be concerned and get involved. Here are just a few:
- This approval was given by The Hopewell Township Planning Board without any regard to the community it would directly effect. They claim that T-Mobile “dotted all their i’s and crossed their t’s” and our Planning Board had no choice but to approve. We now know this is not true. (see blog regarding the Federal Communications Act of 1996 www.brandonfarmswatertower.com) I find it hard to believe that the Planning Board could not have questioned the application, stalled it, in order to give the members and residents more time to become educated about our poorly written ordinances. You should know that only 5 residents (out of over 1,200 homes) were originally notified about T-Mobile’s plans. You should also know that T-Mobile set their sights on this tower over 18 months ago, how long did our Township Committee, Zoning and Planning Boards know? Hmmm.
- Many veteran Real Estate professionals have given evidence of property value decline in communities with cell phone towers. Not sure why this does not touch on everyone’s nerve! We all pay a lot in property taxes for houses that will most likely decrease in value. We can just get reassessed, right? Easier said than done-we will be paying these high taxes for a long time regardless of the value of our homes. The tax office is it’s own entity and no Committee, Zoning, Planning Boards and/ or residents can demand a reassessment. If you are concerned about aesthetics, this water tower will, in the words of our township engineer, look like a porcupine!
- This next concern is very difficult to discuss, as there are two schools of thought. Health concerns about the RF Electromagnetic Waves that will be emitted from the cell tower. I will not be ignorant and state with absolute certainty that from what I have read there are negative health effects from being exposed to this type of RF radiation. I will however state that there are a lot of what if’s, possibilities and reasons for concern and that many more studies need to be conducted before I can have any peace of mind. I respect the opinions of those who feel otherwise but I will not be comforted by the words of a not retired PhD, CHP, CIH; “RF radiation from cell towers will not cause any harmful health effects” (Hopewell Valley News January 10, 2008). We just do not know for sure. More detailed, long term studies take years, years that I am not willing to gamble with only to find out that my children or future grandchildren have medical issues because they lived near a cell phone tower. I have a child with a serious medical condition, is she in a higher risk factor because of her medical history? I do not know. I do not want to take the chance with her or the rest of my family and I think a reasonable statement would be that most others do not want to either.
- You live in Hopewell Valley for a variety of reasons. You are a part of a large community. A community that is asking for help. Become involved or at the very least stay informed. Don’t let someone else do the fighting for you. Contact our Township Committee members and express your concerns.
Let’s not lose sight of why we are fighting T-Mobile. We do not want them to outfit the Water Tower and turn it into a cell phone tower. We do not want any cell phone towers placed in residential communities in Hopewell Valley. We want the ordinances to be changed to protect all the citizens of our township. Don’t be selfish by being in favor of T-Mobile because you don’t have 3 bars of T-Mobile coverage when you drive by the Water Tower. Make a statement…pick another cell carrier, and there are many, who can give you the coverage you need. We have choices…use them.
It seems so simple but sadly it is not. This issue has and will directly affect Brandon Farms and surrounding neighborhoods. By no means should you feel safe, this could happen within your community of Hopewell Valley. In fact it already happened to another community. I attended the Township Meeting on Monday the 14th of January and learned that a cell tower is being outfitted on top of a radio tower (existing structure) on New Road. The community offered an alternate sight only to be ignored. Did the Township Committee, Zoning and or Planning Boards not realize then that our ordinances were poorly written and did not protect the citizens? This cell company’s application started in 2004! The Township knew that there was an existing structure, our Water Tower, right in the middle of the most densely populated section of Hopewell Valley. Nobody thought that we were a potential target? Everyone is concerned about the letter of the law. We are continually told (at times scolded) that the Planning Board did what they were supposed to do that they had no choice. Seems to me that all of the Township members have lost sight of what is most important…taking care of the people of Hopewell Valley. One thing is certain; no community is safe from cell phone companies their towers, antennas, battery packs, wires and RF radiation!
I would like to thank the committee formed to fight this injustice that is being forced upon the entire Hopewell Township community. Your energy, knowledge, concern and determination are empowering.
Moira
Brandon Farms Resident who cannot see the tower from our home Wife and Mother of three (two who attend Stony Brook Elementary School)No PhD
