Planning board approves T‑Mobile rooftop replacement at 743 Passaic Avenue with conditions

The City of Clifton planning board on a motion approved a conditional‑use application and site plan allowing T‑Mobile Northeast LLC to relocate a rooftop telecommunications installation from 777 Passaic Avenue to 743 Passaic Avenue and to install antennas with a maximum top height of 66 feet.

Board approval matters because the move replaces an existing carrier site that will be decommissioned and aims to maintain mobile coverage and capacity along Passaic Avenue and Route 3, the applicant said.

Frank Ferraro of the firm Ferraro & Stamos spoke for T‑Mobile and presented three expert witnesses: Ryan Martin, an RF engineer with Piercon Solutions LLC; Robert Marsac, a licensed architect; and Timothy M. Kronk, a New Jersey licensed professional planner. Martin’s network and capacity analyses showed the existing site serves about 1,700 people over roughly 0.3 square miles; the proposed replacement would serve about 1,500 people over about 0.26 square miles. Martin testified that the replacement site is intended to preserve service and avoid degrading neighboring sites, and that utilization at the existing site sometimes spikes above T‑Mobile’s 70% service threshold.

Martin also reviewed an RF‑exposure analysis and concluded that modeled far‑field emissions from the proposed installation would reach a maximum of about 4.218% of the FCC general‑public exposure limit at approximately 395 feet. On the rooftop, he reported 0.23% of the roof area would exceed the FCC general‑public limit and 0.17% would exceed occupational limits near the antennas; the report recommended signage and alarmed/secured rooftop access. Martin said the proposed facility meets FCC OET‑65 guidance and would comply with FCC limits.

Architect Robert Marsac described the proposed steel‑frame mount and said the design would be fastened to the building structure (epoxy‑anchored threaded rods and base plates) rather than relying on ballasted mounts. He said the project team provided a structural analysis dated Dec. 4, 2024, showing the roof structure can carry the proposed load and that the building is operating at about 75.2% of capacity under the tested conditions; he said final construction details will be reviewed by the building department.

Planner Timothy M. Kronk said the property, Block 71.01 Lot 46 in the BA zone, also lies within the Passaic Avenue overlay district, which permits telecommunications use and allows a 60‑foot maximum height. Kronk said the existing building roof measures about 58.5 feet and the top of the tallest proposed antennas would reach 66 feet, producing a six‑foot deviation from the 60‑foot overlay maximum. He recommended granting the c.2 flexible variance as a better planning alternative than building a new support structure elsewhere.

The board’s approval was made subject to standard and site‑specific conditions identified during testimony and in staff reports, including completing outstanding checklist items, verifying structural anchorage details to the satisfaction of the building department, providing the fire marshal with battery specifications and a key in the rapid‑entry box, confirming that the equipment room on the first floor is sprinklered, and posting required RF signage and alarms where the rooftop could be accessed. The applicant agreed that interior cabinets would be located inside the building and that rooftop entrances would be secured.

The board took the motion to approve the conditional use and site plan; the motion was made by Mr. Venaso and seconded by Commissioner Littaro. The motion carried on roll call and the board directed staff to prepare a resolution spelling out the conditions.

The applicant’s exhibits and expert reports entered the record included radio‑frequency coverage and capacity maps, utilization charts, RF‑exposure reports referencing FCC OET‑65 guidance, structural analysis dated 12/04/2024, and photo simulations showing limited visibility of antenna sectors from several vantage points in the city.

The board and applicants agreed there would be no simultaneous operation of the old and new rooftop sites: the plan is to complete and enable the replacement site and then decommission the existing site to avoid interference.

A formal resolution with the full list of conditions will be prepared for the board’s upcoming agenda.