Cell Phone Towers

A spate of examples in 2011 and early 2012 has highlighted the city-wide issue regarding placement of cell phone towers.  This was on the Agenda for the January 4, 2012 meeting of MIRANET, as brought forward by the Hillcrest Ratepayers Association (HRA).  HRA wrote a statement on December 19, 2011:

RE: Proposed construction of a cell phone tower on the property of Clarkson Presbyterian Church, Clarkson Road

"We, the Board of Directors of the Hillcrest Ratepayers Association, have some concerns about the proposed cell phone tower construction as follows:
- Cell phone towers are being rapidly erected in many communities yet this technology will change very rapidly.  The Industry should have a long-term plan for the location of their structures and for the removal of same.  There should be a long-term real solution to projected cellular requirements.
- Communities are being taken by surprise without proper information, citizen education and notification.  There should be a municipal involvement in the process, and adequate time for consultation and appeal.
Therefore, until there is a decent, democratic process in place and until the industry has a long-term, sustainable plan, we do not support this or any other cell phone tower being constructed in a residential neighbourhood."

In fact this is an issue faced by communities in municipalities all across the country and we need the help of our federal MPs to change the process currently in place.  Only Industry Canada (click for regulations), a department of the federal government, has the authority to decide where cell phone towers can be located.  The City can only provide comments.  The City does not have the authority to stop the construction of a telecommunications tower, even when the location or aesthetic is inappropriate and not in keeping with the City's Official Plan. 

Supplied photo:  Cell phone tower recently installed at Kingdom Glory Church at 1261 North Sheridan Way (map) in Ward 8.  Click image for enlargement.

► The Hillcrest Ratepayers Association (HRA), Clarkson Fairfields South Ratepayers Association (CFSRA), Park Royal Community Association (PRCA) and Whiteoaks Lorne Park Community Association (WLPCA) along with other groups are preparing to address this issue by forming a Committee, and state there is a need for well-defined community involvement and transparency for such decisions; the City must develop a protocol for Industry Canada to follow (as it does in other municipalities) when any such proposal is made in Mississauga.

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STOP THE CLARKSON ROAD CELL TOWER: 
There is a PETITION in regard to the Bell Mobility Cell Tower proposal for Clarkson Road Presbyterian Church (map and link) in Ward 2.  A Public Meeting was organized by the local residents on January 11, 2012.  Mayor Hazel McCallion, Ward 2 Councillor Pat Mullin and Mississauga South MP Stella Ambler attended.  The proposal is currently ON HOLD, but for how long?  It is important to maintain the resistance.

► Click image (lawn sign) to access the Stop Clarkson Road Cell Tower petition site. 

► To order your lawn sign, contact Concerned Residents of Clarkson and Lorne Park at: stopcelltowers@gmail.com.

NOTE: Representatives of the local residents' associations are meeting with the Church Board on Wed. February 15.  This echoes the approach taken successfully in the Mineola cell tower fight.

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CELL PHONE TOWER AT SHAWNMARR PARK: 
Since November 2011, residents near Shawnmarr Park (map) in Ward 1 have been asking about the new tower which has been erected in their neighbourhood.

► Click image for enlargement (supplied photo from a resident). 

The City Parks Department and the Ward Councillor's Office did not have the information for residents at the time because the tower was not installed in the park, but on the adjacent road boulevard.  The City Transportation and Works Dept. was able to supply information about the tower to the Councillor's Office on January 27, 2012: 

"The recently installed tower on Queen Street West is a 14.9m (48.88 ft) high telecommunication tower that was installed by Bell Canada.  Industry Canada, an agency of the federal government, has the authority to regulate telecommunication towers under the federal Radiocommunication Act.  Because of this, the City has no authority under the provincial Planning Act or our City By-laws to stop the installation of a telecommunication tower.

Further, Industry Canada excludes telecommunication towers that are less than 15.0 m (49.21 ft) above ground level from the requirement to consult with the Land-Use Authority and the public.  As such, the telecommunication service provider did not consult with the Land-Use Authority (i.e. Planning and Building Department) regarding the installation of this tower.

Bell Canada did obtain a road occupancy permit from the Transportation and Works Department to allow for the construction activities to occur.  The road occupancy permit tracks construction activity with the City owned road right of way by all contractors to manage insurance requirements, boulevard damage, cleanup etc.  The road occupancy permit is not a mechanism that rules on whether the subject tower should be allowed.

We have also recently been informed by both Bell Canada and Industry Canada that the radio frequency strength emitted from this tower calculated at a height of 2m above ground level is 100 times less than the allowable maximum limited specified in Health Canada's Safety Code 6 (standard for general public)."

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MINEOLA CELL PHONE TOWER CANCELLED:  (July 2011)
The community-driven resistance and response regarding proposed construction of a telecommunication tower on the property of St. Mark's Lutheran Church at 130 Mineola Road East (map) beside Port Credit Secondary School was conducted with speed, organization and resolve, and appropriately directed towards the decision maker: the church.  A peaceful RALLY was held on June 19, 2011 @ 9:30 a.m. on the sidewalk at St. Mark's Church.

► The Credit Reserve Association (CRA) along with Ward 1 Councillor Jim Tovey supported the citizens in this fight.
 

► See the Stop the St. Mark's Cell Tower WEBSITE which includes the online Petition, YouTube videos and links to resource material.

 

 

 

 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) – Telecommunications Towers:

Q.  What is the City’s role in the process?
A.  The City can only provide comments. The City does not have the authority to stop the construction of a telecommunications tower.

Q.  Who has the final authority to decide where telecommunications towers are located?
A.  Only Industry Canada, an agency the federal government, has the authority to decide where cell phone towers can be located.

Q.  How can members of the public get involved?
A.  There is a requirement for public consultation in some cases. Members of the public can provide their comments as part of that process.  The requirements for public consultation are outlined in an Industry Canada Circular.

Q.  What will Industry Canada consider when they make a final decision?
A.  According to Industry Canada, all comments received will be considered except those about the effects on property values, or concerns about the health effects of electromagnetic fields.

The federal government has established standards for acceptable exposure to these fields that they consider when they decide on a location for a tower.  These standards are outlined in Safety Code 6 – Limits of Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields.

While the City has no jurisdiction or authority, requests are made to the service provider to provide notification to a wider circulation area which would inform more residents.  As well, notification should be sent by registered mail to ensure receipt of notification to all.  This request by the City would not have the force of law and would be under the sole discretion of the provider.