The County Wants to Disregard the LAW!
The proposal to build a Communication Tower atop Ramapo Mountain Reservation is illegal and cannot be permitted under current New Jersey Law.
It violates the Public Trust
Violating the Public Trust concerning Green Acres Program perpetual covenants and seeking permission for banned types of development within the Highlands Preservation Area undermines 65 years years of hard-won New Jersey conservation standards. Considering this project proposal so that a private company can amass huge monetary gains is an unethical act by the Bergen County Commissioners, and is an abomination of the conservation standards that have been enshrined in existing New Jersey conservation laws and regulations
The proposed tower is for private gain, and is NOT a Compelling Public Need
The Bergen County Commissioners have admitted and it has been documented in a public County Commissioners’ meeting that they are considering their options regarding this proposed tower project because they need money regarding budgetary issues. The need for money is not a legitimate reason to request a Green Acres diversion from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres covenants. The proposed project would violate the public trust, as land purchased with dedicated Green Acres Open Space funds has had all rights to develop the land for private gain retired. Those rights cannot be resuscitated.
The Highlands Water Quality Protection and Planning Act does not allow any new construction in the Preservation Area
The proposed site for this abominable 500 foot tall tower that would kill thousands of night-flying migratory songbirds and destroy scenic views, as well as its access road, is undeveloped natural land composed of forest vegetation and natural soil and bedrock. There is no pre-existing development. The only way to build such a structure in the Highlands Preservation Area is to get a waiver or exemption to maintain or refurbish an already existing developed site. The Bergen County Commissioners would be asking the Highlands Council for an approval which is essentially illegal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is being proposed in the Ramapo Valley County Reservation?
A private company, McKay Brothers, is proposing to build a 500-foot communications tower in the middle of the Ramapo Valley County Reservation—public parkland that is protected under New Jersey’s Green Acres program. The tower would transmit financial data between New York Chicago and Canada for high-speed Wall Street trading—not for public communication or safety needs.
Why is this tower being proposed?
The purpose is not to improve cell service or emergency communications. Instead, it’s to allow Wall Street speculators and hedge funds to shave microseconds off electronic trading times. The project is purely about corporate profit, not public benefit.
Why is this project wrong for the Ramapo Reservation?
This tower would industrialize one of Bergen County’s most treasured parks—turning open space into a commercial facility. It violates the County’s own mission to preserve natural lands for recreation and environmental protection. The project would:
- Cause visual blight—the 500-foot tower would be visible for miles.
- Destroy habitat for endangered and threatened species.
- Pollute streams and wetlands in an area with Category One (C1) waterways.
- Fragment forest ecosystems and damage migratory bird pathways.
- Block public access to areas taxpayers have already paid to protect.
- Disrespect historic and cultural sites, including lands significant to the Ramapough Lenape people.
Who supports this project—and why is Bergen County involved?
The Bergen County government is pursuing a public-private partnership (P3) with McKay Brothers to lease county parkland for private use. County officials are trying to present this as a communications upgrade, but the reality is that they are leasing public land to a private financial technology firm for speculative purposes.
What can residents do to help stop the tower?
- Contact Bergen County Commissioners and demand they reject the project.
- Submit comments to the NJDEP, Green Acres, and Highlands Council opposing the diversion of parkland.
- Spread the word—share this information with friends, neighbors, and local media.
- Join SOAR and local environmental groups fighting to Save Our Amazing Ramapos!
Doesn’t Bergen County need better cell coverage in the park?
No. Major cell providers already confirm that coverage in and around the park is strong. Hikers and residents report no cell service problems. Standard cell towers are 50 feet tall—not 500. There is no public communication need for a tower of this size.
Isn’t this tower illegal under environmental law?
Yes. The tower would violate several key environmental protections: The Highlands Act, which bans new major construction in the Highlands Preservation Area unless exempt. This project does not qualify for an exemption. Green Acres rules, which prohibit leasing parkland for private profit. The Public Trust Doctrine, which holds that public resources must be preserved for public use, not corporate gain.
How is Bergen County trying to get around these laws?
Officials appear to be exploiting loopholes:
- Proposing a 19-year, 11-month lease—just short of the 20-year limit that would trigger stricter state review.
- Claiming a Highlands Exemption 4 for “previously developed areas,” even though the site is undeveloped forest with wetlands and rare species.
- Minimizing state oversight by filing applications themselves instead of the company doing it—keeping the process less transparent.
Are there alternative sites for this kind of tower?
Yes. There are numerous existing towers on private land that could be used instead. Building a new mega-tower in the middle of a preserved park is completely unnecessary.
What is at stake if this project is approved?
If Bergen County allows this project, it will set a dangerous precedent—making every county park and preserved open space vulnerable to private industrial development. Once one park is sold out to Wall Street, no open space is safe.
Why does this matter to the public?
The Ramapo Reservation is Bergen County’s Yellowstone or Yosemite—a place meant for hiking, nature, and quiet reflection. It was preserved with taxpayer dollars for the people, not for Wall Street speculators. This project is a betrayal of the public trust and the environmental legacy of Bergen County.