The Morris Township Board of Adjustment voted Nov. 24, 2025 to approve VA‑22‑25, allowing New Singular Wireless PCS LLC/AT&T to install 12 panel antennas (in three arrays) at a centerline near 90 feet on an existing ~102‑foot water tank at the Red Bulls training facility (Block 9101 Lot 5). The approval includes a small fenced equipment compound (about 18 by 26 feet) that will contain two equipment cabinets and a 27 kW diesel backup generator, and grants the D‑1 use variance, D‑6 height variance and four C variances the applicant requested.

Counsel Erin Borick opened the application and explained that the site sits in the OL‑40 PUD nonresidential overlay; because the prior planned unit development did not contemplate telecommunications use, the applicant sought the D‑1 use variance in addition to height and bulk relief. Radio frequency engineer Daniel Panessa testified that AT&T’s propagation maps show an area of deficient in‑building and in‑vehicle coverage along State Highway 24, Columbia Road and nearby streets, and that adding the antennas on the water tank would substantially reduce that coverage gap. Panessa also presented an FCC compliance evaluation showing maximum modeled public‑exposure levels of about 16.39% of the FCC general‑population limit at ground level (well below the 100% threshold). He described the planned bands and reported total input powers per band (examples cited in testimony included 480 W for 700 MHz and 240 W for 850 MHz). "This site is to cover customers, subscribers who live and travel through the area," he testified.

Civil engineer Greg Nowrotzki described site plans for the fenced compound, cable routing up the tank leg, screening landscaping and a plan to match paint colors to the tank. He said the compound will include a 12x20 concrete pad, two equipment cabinets, a 125‑gallon fuel tank for the generator and concrete bollards for protection; the generator is expected to run up to 30 minutes monthly for testing and about 8–12 hours under heavy outage use. Nowrotzki said the applicant revised fence material and landscaping in response to technical‑coordination comments and added American boxwood plantings designed to reach 5–8 feet at maturity for screening.

Planner Paul Rickey testified that collocating antennas on an existing water tank is preferable to building a new tower and that the application meets positive criteria for a D‑1 variance, including public‑safety and communications benefits (FirstNet) and mitigation of negative impacts through painting, screening and siting on an existing structure. He presented photographic simulations showing very limited visibility from typical neighborhood vantage points.

Members of the public asked whether other carriers could later place antennas on the same tank and whether the tank owner (Red Bull Arena Inc.) would keep the tank in good repair and notify carriers before maintenance; witnesses said other carriers would need to submit separate applications and that the applicant has a lease with Red Bull Arena Inc., which owns the tank. The board discussed alternative existing sites (a Crown monopole on Whippany Road and a Diamond managed pole on Old Turnpike Road) and accepted testimony that those existing structures would not provide the necessary coverage footprint.

Before voting, board members and professionals proposed conditions. The board approved the application subject to the applicant: (1) painting antennas and equipment to match the tank color and updating paint if the tank color changes; (2) relocating the gated compound access to the southern side of the enclosure to preserve the staggered planting buffer; (3) limiting generator testing to weekday business hours (suggested 9 a.m.–5 p.m.); (4) permitting the compound fence up to 7 feet and requiring double‑staggered plantings per the township standard; and (5) tying any variance tied to specific site‑plan dimensions shown on the updated plans submitted to the board. The board recorded the motion, seconded it, and carried it on roll call.