JACKSON — The Planning Board has granted approval for the placement of six antennas on an existing monopole on Six Flags Boulevard.

The application was heard at the Aug. 17 meeting of the Planning Board.

Doug Klee, the board's engineer, said Metro PCS New York LLC sought approval to install six antenna panels on an existing 150-foot-tall monopole that is in the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park. There is also some equipment to be installed at ground level.

The board's planner, Anna Wainright, noted that the antennas are a permitted use at the location and within the height limitation.

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ttorney Michael R. Beck, representing

the applicant, said Metro PCS is a newly licensed telecommunications carrier, a cell phone company similar to Verizon, T-Mobile or Nextel.

Beck said Metro PCS does not have a network in Jackson at this time. He said its license has recently been granted for New York and New Jersey and now it is building a network.

The application is on the Six Flags property off Route 537 where there is an existing 150-foot-high monopole that is in compliance with Jackson's wireless ordinance, and as pointed out by the planner, this kind of location on an existing pole is encouraged, Beck said.

"The application is very simple," the attorney said. "It's to put six additional antennas on the existing pole and to put equipment at the base of the pole inside of a fenced-in area that is adjoining the parking lot."

Beck presented as a witness Joseph Chiaravallo, who has a background in physics and radio frequency communications.

Chiaravallo said if the emissions from all of the service providers were combined, the tower would emit less than one-half of 1 percent of the emissions allowed by the FCC code.

Source: Howell Tri Town News