Northfield radio station seeks variance to erect 125-foot tower

Last Updated on Thursday, February 07, 2013 04:01 pm Written by SUZANNE MARINO Tuesday, February 05, 2013 04:38 pm

NORTHFIELD – Town Square Media is scheduled to come before the Planning Board Thursday, Feb. 7 with an application for a height variance to erect a 125-foot communication tower adjacent to its office suite at 950 Tilton Road.

In a letter to board, the applicant said the tower should safeguard the station’s ability to broadcast without interruption.

A derecho ripped through this part of Atlantic County in late June, and local radio stations were scrambling to get their signal out after the storm handicapped their ability to keep all their stations broadcasting.

Northfield city code Chapter 215-134 dealing with bulk standards of wireless communication towers limits the height for a single-use tower to 100 feet. The tower is required to be 250 feet from a residential zone and 500 feet from an existing structure.

Town Square Media operates WPUR-FM, WFPG-FM, SWJP-FM, WENJ-FM and WPGG-AM in the local market as well as 244 radio stations and 250 local companion websites in 51 small to mid-size markets, according to its website.

The Planning Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at City Hall, 1600 Shore Road.