A motion was carried during the Sept. 10 Committee of the Whole meeting for council to direct administration to attempt to find an alternate location for the Rogers Communication proposed cell tower.
The proposed cell tower injury came from applicant, Evolve Surface Strategies in May of 2018.
“Rogers is proposing to construct the telecommunications tower to close wireless communication gaps in the area and meet the rising demands of data services,” said Planner of Community Growth and Infrastructure Shamin Vicencio.
“The applicate seeks a letter from the City of Chestermere indicating support for the installation of the proposed telecommunications tower,” she said.
The motion that was carried states that any alternate location selected must comply with the city land use bylaw, municipal development plan, and not impact future development, and have minimal impact on local residents.
There are over 500 properties within a 500-meter radius of the proposed 35-meter tall cell tower, the closet being approximately 80-meters away from the site.
“The applicant has stated they were given a limited search area, which happens to be in close proximately to residential areas,” Vicencio said.
The City of Chestermere has received a lot of correspondence stating concerns from residents, including health and safety, decreased property value, proximity to residential areas, and design.
The City of Chestermere does not assess a submission for the telecommunications antenna structure with respect to health and radiofrequency exposure issues.
“We do not have a resource for an expert who can address the health and safety,” Vicencio said.
Internal concerns include visibility from the main corridor, setbacks from major powerlines, access, and future development.
“The applicant states that there is no evidence to the structure’s impact on property value,” Vicencio said.
“We rarely hear from our residents on issues, and we’re hearing loud and clear that they don’t want it,” said Chestermere Councillor Yvette Wagner.
“I don’t even care why. They don’t want it in their backyard, and there has to be a thousand other places to put it. If that means it costs Rogers a bit more money because there’s a bit more land, or they have to build a taller tower, I’m OK with that,” she said.
She added, “I’m completely in opposition.”
Councillor Michelle Young stated that she too is not in favour of providing the applicant with the letter of support for the cell tower.
In past when these type of utility services come to councils there are options,” she said.
Adding, “I’m not in favour of this. I’m not saying that it shouldn’t be anywhere in Chestermere, but I’m confident that this is not where it should be.”
Along with the councillors, Mayor Marshall Chalmers also has concerns regarding the proposed cell tower, including the future of Chestermere Boulevard.
“We have a city department who is expressing concerns about this. The optics of it, there are options available to camouflage these towers, I don’t see any effort in that regard to come up with a unique camouflage,” Chalmers said.
He added, “I’m hearing that there is an overwhelming majority that is not supporting this application, although, at the end of the day, we don’t have the final say.”
