A big win for the Ramapo Mountains Reservation and the people

In a major victory for the protection of the Ramapo Mountains and public parkland, Bergen County has taken a stand against the proposed 500-foot telecommunications tower in the Ramapo Valley County Reservation. This decision marks an important moment for environmental protection, public trust, and grassroots democracy.

After careful review and overwhelming public opposition, Bergen County did what was right and opposed this destructive project. The county listened to residents, environmental advocates, hikers, and community members who made it clear that this proposal represented the privatization and industrialization of parkland that belongs to the people. By rejecting the tower, Bergen County is now protecting the heart of the Ramapo Valley County Reservation and preserving one of its most treasured natural landscapes.

This decision did not happen by accident. It happened because people showed up, asked hard questions, and exposed the flaws, misinformation, and environmental harm embedded in the proposal. What was initially presented as a “done deal” was ultimately stopped by persistence, facts, and public pressure.

This is a victory for protecting open space and a big win for grassroots organizing. We were told this was a done deal, but the people showed up, the Commissioners listened, and the tower was stopped.

Bergen County itself acknowledged the importance of preserving this public resource, stating:

“After careful review and due diligence, the County of Bergen has declined to take any further action regarding the proposed telecommunications tower opportunity at the Ramapo Valley County Reservation.”

The rejection of this proposal is especially significant because the project was never about serving the public interest. The purpose of the tower was to provide high-speed microwave data transmission for a private Wall Street corporation. The goal was to shave microseconds off data transmission times between Wall Street and Canada to gain a competitive advantage in high-frequency trading. This project was about greed, not need.

The tower would have provided no meaningful benefit to Bergen County residents. Instead, it would have destroyed parkland, damaged scenic mountain views, and permanently altered the character of the Ramapo Mountains. This was clearly the wrong project in the wrong place.

Even more troubling were the serious legal and environmental violations associated with the proposal. The tower was planned for the Highlands Preservation Area, directly conflicting with the Highlands Act. It also violated the Green Acres Law, which allows diversion of parkland only for a true public purpose — not private corporate gain — and prioritizes upgrades or co-location on existing towers rather than construction of massive new structures.

Environmentally, the impacts would have been severe. The proposed tower would have been a destructive blight on a scenic mountain ridge, harming migratory birds and endangering endangered species. It would have increased stormwater runoff, destroyed forest canopy, and undermined the ecological integrity of the Ramapo Mountains. Worst of all, it represented a violation of the public trust by diverting precious public land for a Wall Street communications tower.

This fight was a classic David versus Goliath battle: local residents, environmentalists, and hikers standing up against a powerful Wall Street firm and a project that initially appeared unstoppable. But with facts, perseverance, and public engagement on their side, the people prevailed.

David beat Goliath because we had the facts, the people, and perseverance on our side. The Ramapo Mountains won.

At first, it seemed like the project was inevitable. We were told it was a done deal. But as Save Our Amazing Ramapo (SOAR) and community members continued to raise concerns, document environmental impacts, and point out legal violations, the commissioners began to shift their positions. As more people showed up to meetings and spoke out, the county could no longer ignore the reality that this project was deeply flawed and environmentally damaging.

Bergen County’s statement continues: “After weighing the potential benefits against the regulatory complexity and the importance of preserving the character of this treasured reservation, the County has determined that it is not in the public interest to pursue this proposal further.”

This victory demonstrates what grassroots organizing can accomplish. It also serves as a template for other communities facing similar threats to public land. However, the work is not finished. Support is still needed to ensure that Bergen County fully withdraws the memorandum of understanding and formally rejects the tower. It is critical that the record clearly documents how the project violated multiple laws and posed serious environmental risks, so the county is protected from future legal challenges.

Bergen County has spent decades — and tens of millions of taxpayer dollars — protecting the Ramapo Mountains for environmental preservation and public enjoyment. That commitment must continue. The price of preserving open space is constant vigilance.

The Ramapo Reservation is Bergen County’s Yellowstone. It is its Yosemite. And thanks to public action and responsible leadership, it will remain protected for generations to come.