Green Township issues RFP for Trinca Airport cell tower after residents raise design concerns

The Green Township Committee on Nov. 24 confirmed it has issued a Request for Proposals to build and maintain a cell tower on township-owned property at the former Trinca Airport, with a bid opening scheduled for Jan. 28, 2026, through BidNet Direct. Clerk Mark Zschack told the committee the RFP has been issued and the formal bid opening date has been set.

During open public session, Michelle Dibiase asked questions about the RFP and urged the Committee to limit tower height and adopt a design that minimizes visual impacts on nearby properties. Committee members and staff discussed the tradeoff between addressing mobile dead zones and preserving local aesthetics; Margaret "Peg" Phillips noted the project is intended to address coverage gaps, while Bader Qarmout suggested disguising the structure — for example, by making it resemble a flagpole — to reduce its visual prominence.

Township Attorney Ursula Leo told the Committee that recent changes to the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law allow co-locators on towers once approvals are granted, and said the project will be subject to Land Use Board review where more detailed design and co-location issues will be considered. Leo also noted that any aesthetic mitigation or disguising strategy could be addressed during that review. The Committee did not take a vote on a final design at the Nov. 24 meeting.

The RFP documents and bid opening information are to be posted through BidNet Direct; the Clerk said the Township will consider public input received before and during the Land Use Board review. No construction timeline was announced at the township committee meeting.