Northfield, NJ - Synagogue Steps Away From Cell-Tower Plan

Northfield, NJ - A Shore Road synagogue wants to drop its plans to host a cell-phone tower on its property.

The president of Congregation Beth Israel, said the synagogue's board has voted to ask out of its contract to put a 130-foot-high antenna tower, disguised as a flagpole, on its grounds, based on objections from neighbors, he said, “We've enjoyed wonderful relations with our neighbors since first moving to Northfield more than 20 years ago, they received us with open arms and our relationship with them is very important to us. We would never want to do anything to disturb that relationship. Therefore, we have decided not to proceed with the cell tower.”

At a previous hearing, officials of the cell-phone company said the cell tower is needed to fill in a weak spot in T-Mobile's cell signals in the Northfield area. They also said it would help improve emergency-communications service in and around the city.
The President said Beth Israel officials had been talking to the company about the contract since 2003, but didn't realize the tower would be 130 feet tall until early this year.