Rogers abandons Stouffville cell tower location, MP says

Mayor unaware, company 'looking at all options'

Yorkregion.com
April 7, 2014
By Sandra Bolan

There will be no Rogers cell tower at 20 Freel Lane in Stouffville, the local federal member says.

The telecommunications company has “ ... chosen not to proceed with their application for this tower in this location, acknowledging that the historic downtown Stouffville is not the right location,” according to a media release sent out by MP Paul Calandra.

When asked to confirm this, Jennifer Kent, senior manager of media relations for Rogers Communications told The Sun-Tribune via e-mail: “We’re looking at all options and are working with the federal and municipal levels of government to address concerns raised by the public, while at the same time fulfilling our commitment to improving wireless services for our customers.”

Mayor Wayne Emmerson did not know about the decision but said: “they’re not going to put something in they have a lot of objection to”.

Rogers pulled its application in 2011 when the community filled the council chambers objecting to a proposed cell tower on St. John’s Road.

About 150 people attended the Oak Ridges-Markham MP’s public consultation meeting on the tower Saturday afternoon. He stated, in the media release, all of those in attendance said they do not support the cell tower going in on Freel Lane.

“Even if they pull out, we’re going on with our meeting,” Mr. Emmerson said of a special council meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday regarding the tower and other potential locations.

Mr. Calandra also stated in his press release: “I will be announcing an advisory council to seek input on making recommendations to the town to improve its consultation process. I believe we can balance the need for improved infrastructure that is desperately needed with proper community input.”

When Rogers hosted its public consultation meeting Jan. 16, only one person attended, according to Mr. Emmerson.

The mayor said the municipality needs to look into how people are informed about cell tower proposals as well as all planning matters, to see if there is a better way to reach people.

“I don’t have an answer for that,” he said.

Currently, residents within 150-metre radius of a site undergoing an amendment are notified of the public meetings.

“We need more tools from the federal government to work with these cell towers,” Mayor Wayne Emmerson told The Sun-Tribune.