Councillor doesn't want another cell tower 'snuck' in on Stouffville residents

Yorkregion.com
April 11, 2016
By Ali Raza

Is there a cellphone tower about to go up in your neighbourhood?

Whitchurch-Stouffville council approved a new telecommunication tower protocol to align with Industry Canada’s new standards at a council meeting last week.

Industry Canada’s revised guidelines were released in 2014 and the new protocol replaces the town’s old policy from April 15, 2008.

Notably, staff recommended the town continue to notify residents living within 120 metres of a proposed tower in an urban setting and 500 metres in the rural area.

Given the recent uproar by residents near a cell tower cell tower proposed for 5295 Durham Road 30 - which sits just outside of town borders in Pickering - area councillor Rob Hargrave suggested having “total openness” in communication.

“The perception here is they come into town at night, sneak around, put them (cell towers) up and leave,” he said.

“In this particular case, Pickering went along with their approval process and never told Stouffville,” Hargrave said.

The councillor suggested having seminars with the public to talk about the impact of cell towers to assess any health risks.