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Green Township conditionally accepts high bid for cell-tower lease; residents raise health and property-value concerns
Summary
After a closed-session review, the township committee conditionally accepted SectorSite's bid for a wireless tower lease at 93 Airport Road; the award is subject to a final lease acceptable to both parties and Land Use Board review. Residents raised health and property-value concerns at public comment.
The Green Township Committee on Feb. 17 conditionally accepted the apparent highest bid to lease township property at 93 Airport Road for a wireless communications tower, but the award is contingent on final contract terms acceptable to the township and then a Land Use Board application.
The committee recorded a motion accepting the bid from SectorSite Tower Assets, LLC, which the minutes list as proposing an initial monthly rent of $3,651, annual rent increases of the greater of 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index and a 35% share of colocation revenue, plus a $30,000 one-time payment upon rent commencement. The resolution authorizing the conditional award requires the township and the bidder to reach a final lease based on the bid specifications before the award becomes effective.
During the meeting's public-comment period, resident Donna Grafanakis raised concerns about potential medical conditions and symptoms for residents living near the proposed property and warned of decreased home values for nearby properties; Mayor Virginia Raffay said the committee had noted the concerns. The minutes do not record a developer response to those specific comments.
The clerk clarified that the vote accepted the bid and described next steps: final lease negotiations, a contract to be signed if terms are acceptable, and then formal permitting and review by the Green Township Land Use Board. The minutes note the Land Use Board will review "all the particulars." The matter moved through executive session earlier in the evening for discussion of real property and contract negotiations.
What the township recorded: the award is conditional, and the committee did not execute a final lease during the meeting. The clerk and the attorney team will participate in contract review; the bid acceptance does not by itself authorize construction or site work. The Land Use Board process and any public hearings connected to site plan or permit approvals remain the forum for technical review and public testimony.
Next steps: the clerk will notify the bidder and the township will begin final lease negotiations; the bidder must then file required applications with the Land Use Board and obtain any required local approvals before any construction proceeds.
