Berwyn approves T-Mobile antenna on Harlem Avenue

BERWYN A planned cellular phone antenna added atop a Harlem Avenue apartment building in Berwyn is expected to increase service and minimize complaints of dropped calls by T-Mobile cellular customers.

The City Council accepted the recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals to approve a request by T-Mobile to install an antenna on the roof of a building at 3201 S. Harlem Avenue.

The installation required a conditional use designation in a C-4 Restricted Commercial District by the board.

T-Mobile representative Mike Howley appeared before the ZBA last month and explained the need for additional wireless coverage in response to customer complaints over dropped calls,.

Howley said T-Mobile is trying to avoid the construction of a new antenna tower by installing smaller antennas on existing structures.

T-Mobile engineers determined the Harlem Avenue site to be more suitable than other sites examined in the area.

The antenna will not exceed the height of the buildings existing chimney and will be painted to match the chimneys color, Howley said.

Engineers said the antenna will produce a humming sound, but the noise will be muffled as a result of the height of the antenna.

T-Mobile will still need to secure construction permits with the village before construction begins. A date has not yet been scheduled.

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Berwyn approves T-Mobile antenna on Harlem Avenue