DIDSBURY - Town council has agreed to issue a letter of concurrence for a project that will see a 30-metre communications tower erected at 1727 -19th Street.
The move came by way of motion following a delegation appearance before council at the Sept. 12 council meeting.
The lattice, tri-pole-style wireless communications tower is being constructed to fill significant coverage gaps in the area and to meet the rising demand for wireless voice and data services, council heard.
The applicant is Rogers Communications, which started the public consultation process for the project in June. That process included publication of the proposal notice in the Albertan.
“The applicant has adhered to the public consultation process outlined by Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada,” said the Town of Didsbury's chief administrative officer Ethan Gorner.
The federal government has the sole jurisdiction and discretion over all such applications, which are administered by the ISED, pursuant to the Radio Communications Act.
As such, the town does not have approving authority for the antenna structures. However, the ISED does require the applicant to undertake public engagement, which includes the seeking of a letter of concurrence from the Town of Didsbury, acknowledging that the relevant consultation process has been undertaken, council heard.
During a delegation appearance by Evolve Surface Strategies, on behalf of Rogers Communications, the project and the related consultations were outlined.
The proposed installation will occupy a ground compound area of 10 metres by 10 metres and will include a steel lattice tri-pole telecommunications tower, as well as an alarmed and electronically monitored walk-in equipment cabinet surrounded by a 1.8 metre high chain link security fence with a locked gate access point, council heard.
