HILLSDALE—After nearly an hour of public comment opposing a proposed cell tower at Stonybrook Swim Club, the Borough Council voted 4-2 on April 14 to reject a 25-year lease with Verizon for a 130-foot monopole at the site.
The initial lease was five years, with four additional five-year option terms included.
All 21 residents who spoke opposed the tower, though most supported improving cell service in the borough’s northeast section, where unreliable coverage affects residents and emergency communications.
The issue has drawn sustained attention, with similar opposition voiced at the April 7 meeting and several earlier sessions. Verizon representatives said in mid-March the Stonybrook site was the best option to address longstanding gaps. Residents largely objected to placing the tower at the swim club, a well-used and profitable borough asset.
Voting against the lease were councilors John Ruocco, Clemente Osso, Robert Colletti Jr., and Anthony DeRosa. Councilors Christopher Camp and Melissa Mazza-Chiong voted in favor.
Residents urged officials to pursue alternatives to placing a monopole in a residential neighborhood and at a community facility.
Mazza-Chiong and Camp said public safety and reliable emergency communication outweighed other concerns.
Ruocco said he could not support a tower that would “destroy property value,” citing potential impacts on nearby homes and the club. He said alternative sites — including school properties — should be explored, along with options such as small cells, Wi-Fi, or extenders.
Mazza-Chiong said inadequate east side service presents real risks. She described a Pascack Valley High School student with a heart condition unable to reach help due to lack of service, along with other incidents where residents could not contact emergency services.
“These are real situations happening locally,” she said. “That’s not just unfortunate — it’s something we have the opportunity here to address.” She added that safety benefits outweigh drawbacks for “far more families, students, and first responders.”
Colletti questioned whether Stonybrook was the optimal site, citing unresolved issues. He said Centennial Field and Board of Education properties were not fully evaluated, and Green Acres restrictions were not formally addressed. He also noted the borough’s consultant indicated small cells might still be needed even with a tower, calling for further analysis.
Osso said a tower would not fit the character of the facility and could reduce parking and revenue. He noted the swim club has contributed significantly to the municipal budget and is self-sustaining. He advocated for small cell or distributed antenna solutions, citing their use elsewhere, and warned a long-term lease would limit future options for the 11-acre property.
DeRosa, who lives near Ruckman Road, said he supports improved service but called the process “awkward.” He cited uncertainty around school property use and said other sites were not adequately explored. He called Stonybrook a “poor location,” citing property value concerns, potential financial impacts on the club, and limits on future redevelopment. He urged Verizon to return with a better plan.
Camp, liaison to the swim club, said safety drove his vote. He disputed claims that alternatives were not explored, citing testimony that small cells would be insufficient and lack battery backup during outages. He urged colleagues to keep working toward a solution.
Following the vote, Mayor Michael Sheinfeld, who votes only in the case of a tie, issued a statement. “Cell service is not a ‘nice to have’; it is a vital lifeline,” he said, citing its role in communication and medical monitoring. “No one wants a tower at Stonybrook — myself included. But as your mayor, I must look for the best of a series of unpleasant solutions.”
He said the east side coverage gap remains unresolved and encouraged residents to engage with elected officials. “Connectivity impacts our day-to-day safety and the long-term management of Hillsdale,” he wrote. “We must decide, as a community, how we intend to solve it.”