The poles are being installed to enhance the signals of only one carrier, T-Mobile. It is interesting that other carriers have graciously entered the community by using existing poles and retrofitting various building to serve the township. These poles can be placed elsewhere as already demonstrated by other cellular carriers, only ATC and T-Mobile have chosen to stand behind the legality of the installation rather than the ethics of their project. Once again, there are other solutions to placing these stand alone poles in people's front yards, only ATC and T-Mobile have opted not to be good neighbors.

After writing this article, I still have a lot of questions. Does anyone think this is indicative of a greater communications trend? Are we going to be even more dependent on cell phones 5 years in the future? Is anyone happy to be getting better cell service in the area?

We currently have T-mobile phones and we have ditched our home phone a few years ago, so yes we are much more dependent on cell phones now than ever before. The signal quality in the Windmill Village neighborhood is very inconsistent, so I do see the need for improving the infrastructure. Some houses receive only a trickle of a signal. We would benefit directly from it.

But this construction of dozens of towers, along main roads but more disturbingly right in our neighborhood, is being handled very badly by our local government and ATC as well. I am absolutely shocked (although maybe I shouldn't be) by this line in the article "Supervisor Eileen Silver said she didn't find out that residents were upset about it until it was too late". This shows a complete disconnect with the residents on the part of our elected supervisors. How can you not realize people would be upset by this plan? That's only common sense.

There are many questions to be answered. Were other plans considered, or did ATC bully it's own plan through? Why didn't the township keep residents informed, especially those whose property values will be hurt by these poles? Are impacted residents going to be compensated? Can impacted residents sue ATC?

This whole thing is a mess, and the supervisors will need to answer for it.

I will be having a 25 ft pole placed on my property in Windmill Village and to be honest I feel like I am living in a communist country and not in America. This is an eye opening experience and I hope not an indication of what the future will look like. Since when can an independent money making company like ATC have the right to come on to resdiential property and erect a tower to generate future business without the propert owner even being made aware of it by either the local government (Northampton Township Board of Supervisors) or ATC. The local officals DID NOTHING to alert us that this was occurring, DID NOTHING to notify us of the lawsuit and ACTED like they did not care at the township meeting last week. Serveral supervisor looked bored when we were raising our concerns during the comment section. This is a gross missuse of thier authority and as such they should all be voted out of office next election. If they do not desire to represent us in the proper manner then let's elect official who will. Call the PUC and complain because you too can have a cell tower on you property if ATC or some other company wants to place one there - currently you will have no choice. This has to change. All the neighborhoods should work together and seek change..

When I discovered a cell tower was coming to my front lawn, I immediately drove over to the twp. office, where I was told it was a "done deal" and "we can do whatever we want" because of the easement. ATC told me all the permits have been legally obtained, and "it's not my property." Vote every elected official that had a hand in this fiasco out of office and boycott T-Mobile.

Again the new supervisor leadership has failed us again. In the past the township at least challenged everything to keep our township desirable and free of urban sprawl. Welcome to big box Walgreen's, cell towers in ones backyard, banks and more banks, builders with no permits, beer stores with 500 watt outside lighting... The township needs to fight the right battles!!!

The current U.S. standard for radiation exposure from cell phone towers is 580-1,000 microwatts per sq. cm. (mW/cm2), among the least protective in the world. More progressive European countrieshave set standards 100 to 1,000 times lower than the U.S. Compare Australia at 200 microwatts,Russia, Italy, and Toronto, Canada at 10, China at 6, and Switzerland, at 4. In Salzburg, Austria thelevel is .1 microwatts (pulsed), 10,000 times less than the U.S. New Zealand has proposed yet morestringent levels, at .02 microwatts, 50,000 times more protective than the U.S. Standard. [3, 4

Over 100 physicians and scientists at Harvard and Boston University Schools of Public Health havecalled cellular towers a radiation hazard. And, 33 delegate physicians from 7 countries have declaredcell phone towers a “public health emergency.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3773284/Health-Effects-from-Cell-Phone-Tower-Radiation

I was notified about Hydrant flushing in my neighborhood and I was notified about garbage pick up going to once a week in my neighborhood, but I was not notified about new cellular towers going up in my neighborhood until it was a "done deal". Let's face it, we pay for the privelege to live in Northampton and you get what you pay for. They knew only a few taxpayers would be effected by this so what the heck, keep it quiet until it's a done deal and so what if we lose a couple votes.

Unfortunately, many townships left the companies no choice. They tried and tried to go through channels to install standard cell towers and met nothing but nastiness and whining. They jumped tons of hoops and saw no results. No one would allow them in their backyard. So, apparently, the tower companies have now found a legal loop hole to do what they have been trying to do all along.

I agree it stinks, but I also think they were forced to these methods because the civilized approach didn't work.

If you begin to see construction on these poles in any neighborhood, please email me at jenna.ekdahl@patch.com to let me know. Also, are any residents planning on taking matters into their own hands to try and fight ATC?

They are beginning to lay the groundwork (big orange tubes being installed in yards along the street) on Loretta Circle and Rotterdam West. My guess is this is for the fiber optics connecting the towers together.

How about checking into the PA PUC motives? Or Judge Batemans motives?
Or our deed restrictions in neighborhoods with no above ground utilities?
what's next in 5 years, a pole on every corner?

We need to attend the supervisors meeting in full force and demand some action. Really tired of the chairman and his cronies worrying about their own political interest. Let’s suggest a pole in the chairman’s backyard and see what happens!

When is the next supervisors meeting? Does anyone know if a protest is being organized?

"Supervisor Eileen Silver said she didn't find out that residents were upset about it until it was too late." In what universe did she think they wouldn't be upset? This is unbelieveable. I thought the supervisors were looking out for our best interests. Wait until election day.

How about a cell tower on top of the new two-story big box Walgreen's? Where is the supervisor leadership?

Will someone at PATCH make the map larger? Even when enlarged, I still can't get a good view.

Thanks

Don't know if this will help but here's the website http://www.americantower.com/sitelocator/default.aspx that got me to the individual addresses of the installations. It involved moving the mouse pointer over the symbols to see the address of the property. Do not be taken in by those who say it cannot be stopped. I was told that for two years while I was suing four townships pro-se. Perhaps because I am not a lawyer, I won. I had to sue Northampton twice over the same issue. I won again. This can be probably be stopped but it will take a different attitude and a different set of questions and some research. I am registered republican. I just ran for committee against Republican Chairman Steve McGill. He is supported by the local Republican political establishment so he is unable to help. His running mate Ethelene Goldberg and the assistant committeeman cannot help either. I have some ideas forming about what can be done.

If the Board's goal is to let our township become like Philadelphia, they are succeeding. Just like Philadelphia: trash once a week; sloppy development without acknowledging the consequences; and local politicians who act irresponsibly. I expect this in Philadelphia, but not Northampton. The Board will attempt to make these negative changes (one-day trash and cell towers) sound positive. However, mark my words, acceptance of these changes will increase blight, decrease property value, and encourage more residents to consider moving somewhere else, where their representatives look out for the township's best interests - not blindside them.

Bill I am with you this must be stopped. These towers placements and ATC maneuvering to get them into the township has established a very bad precedence. I am very concerned about the health effects of these towers near residential homes. There is also a phenomena called EHS, Electrohypersensitivity, which is being studied in Canada, Sweden and Switzerland. Causes neuologically problems, irritation and burning. http://www.hese-project.org/hese-uk/en/niemr/ehs.php.

I am with you what can we do to stop them. Lets get organized.

The Northampton website has a document containing the proposal and approval from ATC.

http://northamptontownship.com/inc/documents/14/ATC.pdf

I am not an expert, but it looks like they received "approval" from the PA PUC back in 2008, then there is a letter to Northampton Twp in 2011. So the township knew about the exact locations of the proposed poles over a year ago and never notified anyone - that's how I understand it. I would like to know exactly what the township knew and when, and what responsible actions they have taken.

I called the township today when I found out last night. We received a certified letter a few weeks ago which did NOT contain any information about the poles going up in our neighborhood. It only mentioned Holland Road and Middle Holland Road. Northampton's Mike Soloman this morning on the phone said he would check into pole locations, told me there are only 12 being erected, and and that he would get back to me.

This is a very enlightening article. It's happening all of the country. The PUC has no clue, and our township has no clue either.

http://theocnow.com/2010/07/24/special-report-cell-towers-get-poor-reception-from-residents-in-laguna-newport/

Has anyone formed a FACEBOOK page regarding this issue? Just curious. I believe it would attract more interest, exposure, and resources in addressing this issue. The fact a board member made the comment she did, tells us two things....Ms. Silver lacks common-sense (in not predicting people would be upset with having 25FT TOWERS ON THEIR PROPERTY), or she is being advised by twp lawyers advising them what to say. Either way, it is unacceptable. Once those towers go up, a negative reputation about residing in Northampton will gradually build, word-of-mouth, among residents and realtors. Those towers will basically be technology "Graffiti." The "broken windows theory" will then be applied. Over time, the only people willing to live in homes with those towers, will be those who don't care about quality of life as much, then the person next door will eventually move to get away from that neighbor, so on and so on, as property values steadily decline. I hope this doesn't happen, but I lived through it before I moved here. Unfortunately, sometimes people don't accept things as the reality, until it's on top of them and too late, because they think it can never happen "here."

NO TRESPASSING SIGNS posted stating "TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT."

I'm not worried about the trash pickup. That was basically a financial decision, and it can "easily" be undone. But once the towers are in it will nearly take an act of god to get them removed. They're there for life.

My E-mail is bon4reason@verizon.net. No Republican committee people and no Republican supervisors, please. Anyone else of good will who wants to do something besides listen to the jawboning that went on at the township at their secret meetings in 2011 send me an e-mail and perhaps we can figure out what to do next.

The tower at 121 Mallard Road is shown as a 39 foot tower. Philly1 - Node 241 so lose the idea that the towers are 25 feet.
Some are but many are not.
According to the U.S. Constitution government is supposed to protect private property not ruin it. If it takes part of it for public use it is supposed to compensate the owner but there are many exceptions including the idea that the property owner will benefit just like everyone else and if they must sacrifice a bit of their property in the spirit of the common good then government may not have to pay for the taking. Sure some judges somewhere have ruled against property rights but the Constiution is still our fixed star and we can bring it up whenever it's violated.
Plus, the township should step up and figure out how to protect property and not stop because they have not yet solved the problem.
Like I wrote, anyone of good will can e-mail me to try to figure out together some strategy and tactics.
Someone asked why I do not want Republican Committee people to e-mail me. Part of the answer is because of their support over the past three weeks of the hate-sites, i.e., the websites and pages that viciously attacked me including their signs at the polling place. I do not mind losing a fair fight but the Republican Committee wants to fight dirty.
I believe I can help here. If not, nothing will be hurt by some honorable people trying to get together and jointly trying to get something done.

PLEASE join our cause on Facebook!!! Lets stay informed and work together!! http://www.facebook.com/NoCellTowers#
Northampton was already bought - they were PAID to forgo their right to appeal!! We can pressure ATC to LEAVE!! With enough negative attention they can go away!!!

1. We can do something! Cell Towers CAN be moved and REMOVED! If we make life uncomfortable and unprofitable enough for ATC they can go away!!!

2. MAKE YOURSELF HEARD! (contact info to be posted shortly)
Call / eMail War from ATC
Call / eMail Mike Soloman from the Telecomm Advisory Board
Call / eMail Pelligrino Town Supervisor

3. DROP T-Mobile as a Carrier. These Towers are for their benefit. Other major carriers used existing towers on main roads. f you have t-Mobile, CANCEL the service!!

3. SPREAD the word. Pass aling this email, join the facebook community page, join the email list

4. ATTEND! Attend the NEXT Township Meeting

4. VOTE! Vote the officials responsible for NOT INFORMING US out of office!!!

Not a complete list of those responsible:

Judge Wallace Bateman-ruled in favor of ATC to put cell towers in Northampton twp.

Board of Supervisors-did not appeal Judge Bateman's ruling in part because ATC agreed to pay the twp. legal fees: Frank Rothermel, James Cunningham, Eileen Silver, Kimberly Rose, George Komelasky. Twp. manager Bob Pelligrino.

Mike Solomon-director of Planning and Zoning.

Telecommunications Advisory Board-Alan Shein,Kenneth Borah, Douglas E. Meyers, Stephen McGill.
A cell tower is slated to be built at 119 Briarwood Drive but not at McGill's residence, 103 Briarwood Drive.

It was nice that FOX 29 ran the story last night. Hopefully, other local and national news markets pick up the story and run it. This is the type of issue many people can relate to. People work very hard for their homes, to maintain them, and take pride in the type of neighborhoods they chose to live in for a reason. Unfortunately, I'm sure we all can currently relate to a haphazard neighbor that doesn't maintain their property. Now, our local government is that type of neighbor, and negatively affects ALL of us. Once the towers and other diminished services are here to stay, residents looking for what landed them in Northampton (clean, scenic, well-planned and thought-out neighborhoods) - but now is gone - will reluctantly and gradually look to maintain their standard of living by moving somewhere else. It's a shame and ironic the twp is so concerned about negative change when approving swimming pools, setting impervious surface. They are highly motivated to enforce those laws, ordinances, and policies. However, they have no motivation to appeal something that will be permanent and damage our township with the placement of these towers. As others said, 12 are too many and the issue is not resolved. I understand they say it's about money to appeal. However, these politicians come and go. We, the residents, will be left with these negative changes, diminished services, and TOWERS. I don't think you can put a $ value on an appeal, with this at stake.

Article regarding cell towers in Lower Makefield....

http://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2011/08/21/yardley_news/news/doc4e4e7445c12a0839248502.txt

I do not live in Northampton, but all who love liberty and freedom, FIGHT!!!

What can the residents do?

Please tell your neighbors, pass out flyers, most people don't know this is happening! Spread the word!

Let our Supervisers know that we want these wireless transmission poles assessed at high levels for Real Estate Tax purposes. The Pa. Courts have held that transmission poles are considered Real Property for R/E Tax purposes. If an transmission pole owner had to pay $4000. @ year Real Estate Tax on each pole we wouldn't have many poles being installed. 60 poles = $240,000. per year R/E Tax.

Hello Hillcrestshire...you are 100% correct....there should be no poles-period. Obviously, we all agree with you on that point. Any ideas on how to stop them?
Meeting with our elected "representatives" isn't going to work. All of them (Rs and Ds alike) have taken millions of dollars in political contributions from Telecommunications Companies and supporting wireless companies over the concerns of residents is the one thing that they can agree on.

Richboro Neighbor

This is an absolute outrage. These poles are 25 feet high. There are no other poles, utility or otherwise, in our neighborhood. All wires are underground in our area, and now, these EYESORES will ruin our lovely neighborhood. We pay taxes in excess of $8K per year and were not even given the courtesy of knowing this was occurring. Closed door meetings. Greased palms. All business as usual in crooked Nothampton Township. It's time to fight back residents!!!

Here is Patch's story on last night's community meeting about the poles: http://northampton.patch.com/articles/towers-begin-to-be-installed-neighbors-outraged

But we all using cellphones, right? That is why they are building them. Same as we all eating heavily processed food and getting sick overtime. Stop doing it and they will back off, they will not spend money building them if less people using hazardous cellphones or eating their processed junk food.

I just returned home from a business trip and caught the last supervisor's meeting on TV last night and was shocked when I learned about the tower/pole situation. My wife didn't know anything about it either, so we then viewed the pictures of the ugly pole and wires on the Northampton Patch website. When we saw the last picture showing the full length of the pole, and how it devalued the look of the home and the surrounding landscaping, we then realized why residents were so upset.

This is simply a disgrace! It is both an abuse, and a manipulation, of outdated utility right of way agreements. 25 foot poles should never be erected on someone's front lawn without their approval. Poles should be phased out with the advancement of today's technology. We should be moving forward, not backwards! I can't believe that the board would have thought that residents would be okay with this. What were they thinking? Also, I can't believe that anyone that lives in Northampton township would find this acceptable! What country do you think we are living in when a company, which is not even a utility company, can manipulate the system, obtain a court order, and come to your home and deface your property value with impunity? Maybe we should erect one of these poles on the judge's home that approved these poles, and see if that changes his perspective. The poles are not on my property, but my wife and I will join the fight because this is simply wrong.

these guys are all on the take

There is no mystery here. Wireless Cos. give millions of dollars in political contributions to both Rs and D's. Whoever gets elected Governor (doesn't matter wether R or D) is owned by Wireless co. Governor appoints political hacks to PUC.
Since PUC members are appointed by Governor, they owe their own jobs to Wireles Cos. and approve rate hikes, cell towers/poles, etc. (including calling ATC a Public Utility so they can do whatever they want in the right of way)
JUST FOLLOW THE MONEY!

Richboro Neighbor

To Richboro neighbor, You fight by building a strong non political coalition of neighbors who have one goal in mind. GET RID OF THE TOWERS. The local p[olitics can come at another time. When you have a goal and a passion and believe you are in the right,you fight not complain. Get your facts first, unfortunately most controversial issues such as this are frequently driven by a few people who know little of what they speak. Learn the facts. Go to the Township building, obtain an open records form and ask for copeis of the previous boards recommendation to appeal to a higher court. This was overlooked by tyhe cuurrent administratio, as adimtted by FRANK ROTHERMEL to the press at Pattie Sextons home. People may not all agree on this issu, but most do. Fight the fight never give up untile the end.

Dar Richboro neighbor, the issue is not how these events occur but more how to reverse these abuses in the future. This is not Republican or Democrat , this is fightinbg for our rights. I have been in the arena for many years now and am proud of some of the accomplishments my associates an I have accomplished in that time. Northampton Township would not be the great place to live in had people like me just sat on the sidelines and complained. Assuming you are someone who is really concerned, stop complaining and joint the battle. This is a small community and someone armed with facts and is willing to get out front can accomplish much good. I use my name, if you are really concerned come out and dont hide behind an alias.

Dear Jerrold...sorry, I just didn't realize how wonderful you are. Keep developing your own facts...maybe even you'll start believing them.

Richboro Neighbor

I prefer to look at this from the point of how each party determines their win.

Township Supervisor’s win was to try and get recurring revenue out of this. Working with ATC was not in their interest, either was informing the public when they were first approached. They failed

American Tower’s win is reducing their long tern costs, they can write off the equipment over 7 years, getting a tax break and then they are home free; no long term leases to pay on expensive cell towers. They are a wholesaler of utility with no public face; they only have a few customers to keep happy like T-Mobile.

T-Moble has the most to lose in this; they are the face to the consumer. They have contracted with American Tower to create this service. Negative publicity out front of T-Mobile stores, lawn signs, signs calling attention to the blight of new poles with T-Mobile’s name noted. Put a T-Mobile face to it. I have the right to paint my house any color I want, but that wouldn’t be kind to my neighbors, same with ATC and T-Mobile, they may have a right, but it is not neighborly. If ATC is successful, that means more boxes on existing poles (one for each carrier). What happens when carrier three wants in? Additional poles, or replacing existing poles with larger ones, since we are told these poles can only accommodate two carriers, not a very robust infrastructure.

Dear Richboro neighbor, I understand your frustration and mistrust of some public officials, but that, right now is not the issue. The issue is getting rid of the poles. Let us forgoe the sarcasim and in our own spheres of endeavor work toward that end. Northampton is a wonderful place to live and raise our families as I have for 40 years. We didn't get to be this way by accident, we got this way because of contientous leadership over the years. Sometimes mistakes are made and need to be corrected. This is one of those times. As I commented earlier, this is not the time for partisan politics, that will come later. For now LET US, IN OUR OWN WAYS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO STOP THIS INTRUSION.

Who will profit from what ATC Outdoor DAS is doing. If it is a mobile phone provider, which one, T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint? If it is an Internet company, which one? If someone in the local government will profit, who? If you want to know who is behind this, then follow the money. When you know who is behind this then use Social Media to bring all the details to light. Tell the world what this is doing to you and your families. Show the world the ugliness of it all. Now encourage people to boycott, write letters, send emails. Remember mobile phone and Internet contracts do expire, and DO NOT have to be renewed with the same provider. You’re not just a home-owner; you are a passionate member of a close and caring community with a great deal of purchasing and political power. Use it! Start now. Facebook about it! Blog about it! Talk about it when you go to the market, when you go to the bank, when you go to church, when you go to the theater, when you go out to eat, when you gather to watch your children play. Launch your own campaign, create your own commercials, and let YouTube broadcast your plight for free. Whatever you do, don’t let anybody tell you that this is a done deal.

How can I sign a petition?