Rogers Communications cell towers, as part of the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) cell gap project, were a hot topic at Highlands East’s Nov. 14 regular council meeting.
Spectra Point Inc. came to discuss a proposed tower near Clement Lake. Planner Chris Jones had brought their request to the municipality before, but councillors had concerns about the tower’s proximity to Wilberforce.
Spectra’s Chris Leggett appeared virtually last week to explain why they chose the location, citing expected usage patterns of service and proximity to users; local topography; line of sight requirements; opportunities to use existing structures and availability of a willing host.
“Deployment of the tower in its current location, in close proximity to the settlement area, provides high quality internet, wireless internet services, and wireless telephone services, to the residents of the settlement area inside their buildings, which is a great part of what the demand is for these services,” Leggett said.
He added for the site, they spoke with several landowners and only found one willing to host a tower – proposed to be 60 metres high for 4G and 5G service for buildings and cars. He said it would cover a radius of 4 km and could accommodate co-location of other cell service providers.
Deputy mayor Cec Ryall asked if it was about business competition versus customer service since there is an existing Bell tower in Wilberforce Rogers could co-locate on.
Leggett replied in part that because of significant government funding for the EORN project, ($150 million) Rogers is able to erect towers where they otherwise might not be built by other providers due to cost.
Ryall appreciates better coverage but said he is hearing from residents they are worried about different companies placing towers “all over the place… So, you could end up with towers that have both Bell, Rogers, and I’m not sure if Telus is up here, more or less in the same coverage area. That’s something that has been voiced to me as being not something that people would want. Having said that, they want the towers.”
Leggett expects other providers will co-locate versus building towers of their own.
Glamor Lake tower
During the meeting, Jones updated council on a proposed tower at 1005 Glamor Lake Rd. In July, council gave municipal support with conditions, including that the proponent be requested to undertake enhanced public consultation for the proposal (as per council policy); and submit a plan to address existing open storage on the property prior to the completion of the public consultation.
Jones said the proponent held a virtual public consultation Aug. 15 with about 20 people.
On the issue of the open storage of derelict parts, vehicles and boats, he said the municipality prepared a site plan agreement requiring the owner to remove or relocate the items prior to Oct. 1, 2024 and they’d agreed. Council has given its consent.
Zoom meeting for tower
Meanwhile, Rogers is advertising a proposed 90-metre wireless tower at 1587 Alsop Rd., in Highlands East. It will host a public information meeting and comment session via Zoom Dec. 12, from 6-7 p.m. People must register by 3 p.m. Dec. 12
Further, the company is inviting the public to mail or email comments, and, or requests to be informed of the municipality’s position before 5 p.m. Dec. 24.
Contact information: Proposed Wireless Communications Installation Reference: C8597 – 1587 Alsop Rd. Eric Belchamber on behalf of Rogers Communications Inc. 337 Autumnfield St., Kanata, ON, K2M 0J6 Phone: 613-220-5970 Email: eric. belchamber@rogers.com.
