Those dead spots you keeping hitting in Fair Haven when talking on your cell phone? They’re no closer to being filled, thanks to a decision by the state Department of Environmental Protection that the borough may not use Green-Acres funded land as a site for a cell tower.

And Mayor Michael Halfacre says he thinks the DEP officials who heard the borough’s hourlong presentation on the request had made up their minds in advance, according to a story on the Asbury Park Press website.

From the story:

The application, which could have set a statewide precedent if it had been approved, was denied after Fair Haven officials made an hour-long presentation to about five state officials.

“When we were through, they left the room and came back after two minutes and said, “we’re not doing this,'” said Mayor Michael Halfacre, who was at the meeting. “It was clearly a predetermined denial.”

Karen Hershey, DEP spokeswoman, said the application was denied because state officials didn’t believe that Fair Haven officials adequately demonstrated their case.

Specific reasons for denial will be outlined in a letter to be sent by the DEP to borough officials, she said.

This is the second time the DEP has shot down a proposal by the borough to swap land at Green Acres-funded Fair Haven Fields for municipal property in an effort to find an acceptable location for a cell tower.
The last go-round was in 2003.

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