Politics & Government
Council Is 'Tired' of T-Mobile's Postponements
The cellular communications company wants to put antennae on Macy's roof at the Neshaminy Mall.
Bensalem Township Council Monday tabled a T-Mobile cell antenna application, but did not reschedule its next hearing.
Councilman Joseph Pillieri said the telecommunications company is “playing a shell game” by postponing its scheduled hearings hoping that residents that oppose the application will eventually give up and stop attending the meetings.
“I’m tired of it,” he said. “It’s an ongoing problem with all these (cell) towers.”
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T-Mobile wants to place antennae atop the building at the . The application was approved by the township Planning Commission in March.
The application calls for nine antennae to be erected along with six equipment panels, each weighing 1,000 pounds, atop a steel platform. The project engineer told the Planning Board the weight would be carried by the existing columns of the building.
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(T-Mobile's plans are attached to this story as a PDF document.)
T-Mobile asked for a continuance because a structural report related to the application was not ready.
At council’s June 13 hearing, Councilman Ed Kisselback said he was concerned with multiple delays by T-Mobile because of its impact on concerned residents. Township attorney Joseph Pizzo responded, “If not next meeting, then enough is enough.”
On Monday, Pillieri said he wants T-Mobile to re-notify residents before the application comes before township council again.
T-Mobile also has a hearing scheduled for July 11 regarding a 90-foot tower at 700 Bristol Pike behind Extra Space Storage. Several residents have attended meetings in opposition to that site.
That application was rescheduled at the June 13 meeting because T-Mobile was looking for alternative sites.
Council isn’t afraid to reject cell tower applications when residents oppose them.
In March, council rejected a conditional use application by T-Mobile to erect a 64-foot telecommunications monopole at an auto repair shop in the mostly residential Belmont Hills section of the township.
Numerous neighbors opposed that application at several hearings.
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