Norfolk County council is supporting plans to erect a 60 meter telecommunications tower at 274 Front Rd. in Port Rowan.
Councilors, at a council-in committee meeting Tuesday, voted to support the proposed tower. The plan was brought to council by Brendan Chiu, of Fontur International of Markham on behalf of Bell Mobility.
Telecommunications towers and their locations are regulated by Industry Canada. Companies however, are required to consult with Navigation Canada, Transport Canada and the municipality prior to erecting towers
Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting Chiu said the proposed tower is crucial to prevent a degradation of wireless service along Front Road. The tower, if approved, would meet current and future needs and improve existing coverage in the Port Rowan area.
However, county staff were not convinced of the need for a new tower.
In a report sent to councilors, county staff said Fontur International applied to erect a 70-metre – 229.66 foot — telecommunications tower at 1086 Bay Street in Port Rowan on behalf of Signum Wireless. That tower was recommended for approval by council and is 1.8 kilometers away from the Bell Mobility proposed location.
County staff also noted that a 60-metre tower on Front Street could have implications for the waterfront, views and is along the waterfront trail route. A large tower at the top of the bluff would be significantly visible from the Inner Bay, Long Point, said the report, prepared by county planner Hannelore Yager.
But councilors also heard from Marshall Collins, owner of Collins Harbour, who purchased the site – a marina and trailer park – three years ago.
“It was early on in our operations that we identified the communication was an issue in our area,” Collins said. “Cellular services was almost non-existent and so we started to work right away will Bell Mobility to have a temporary tower brought in to service the immediate area.
“We’ve worked closely with Bell Mobility to improve service in the area especially in the summer season to aid our boaters, vacation stayers and tourists in our area.”
In an effort to take the next step, Collins said he signed a long-term lease with Bell Mobility to put a permanent telecommunications tower on the property.
Bell has reviewed the area and identified the Front Road site as the best location for a new tower, he said.
Collins challenged the staff report noting that telecommunications towers elsewhere in the county are located in close proximity.
Collins told councilors that construction can begin as early as this year once approvals are secured. The new tower will also provide optimum 911 service.
“When we don’t have the (temporary) tower on site, we had several boating issues and people who were in medical distress encountered fractured (cellular) 911 services,” Collins said in response to a question from Coun. Kim Huffman. “We had dropped calls to the point where we had to have someone run to a house to make a land-line call to 911.”
Mindful of county staff’s recommendation to not support the proposed location, Coun. Linda Vandendriescche said there were letters of support for the proposed tower from the community.
Vandendriescche said it would be awkward for the council to not support the proposed location given the letters of support from the community indicating there is a need for another tower.
“It would look poorly and I have some major concerns here and I want to make sure the residents have their opinions heard,” Vandendriescche said.
Councilors voted to send a letter of support to Industry Canada and the package will include letters of support and a letter in opposition to the proposed location from residents.
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