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DEP ruling clears way for construction to begin on permanent cell tower in Mahwah dead zone affecting 5,300 residents

MAHWAH —  The Township Council emerged from an hourlong closed session Thursday to say they had reached agreement with a Masonicus Road resident to continue installation of power lines to feed a temporary cell tower on Fire Company 3 property. Jeff Buchak of 73 Masonicus Road had halted the Rockland Electric installation April 6.  He claimed the company had illegally cut down six trees in the wetlands area of his property without a Department of Environmental Protection permit, and that the township had not fulfilled a verbal promise to compensate him before work began. Township Admini...

The tower to resolve a 2-mile-wide dead zone on the township's northern border has been the subject of off-and-on talks for the past 16 years. Most recently, consultant Declan O'Scanlon of FSD Enterprises has estimated a temporary tower will be up at the firehouse by May under the auspices of AT&T and Verizon. However, the Sun suit contends the companies need their permission to use Rozanski Lane, an easement that runs along their rear property line, to bring in materials, run power lines or service the finished tower. The township is waiting for the installation of temporary power lines b...