MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The county's subdivision and development appeal board (SDAB) has heard an appeal of an earlier approval for a communications tower just outside Carstairs.
The hearing was held on April 2, with the board hearing from the appellant, Eastgate Development Group, and the applicant, Rogers Communications Inc. c/o Evolve Surface Strategies Inc.
On Dec. 16, the county’s municipal planning commission approved a development permit for the communications tower.
Set on a 129-acre parcel south of Highway 581 on the east side of Rge. Rd. 13, the 91.5-metre tower will be located on the westerly side of the parcel near the middle of the quarter.
The tower will replace an existing tower located in the SE 9-30-1-5 within the Town of Carstairs' boundaries as the agreement for the tower has expired, members heard.
Rogers Communications Inc., the applicant, conducted a community consultation, circulating the application to 35 adjacent landowners within a kilometre of the proposed location, including the Town of Carstairs.
During the December hearing, one letter of objection was received voicing concerns about the project, from Chris Berry, managing director of Eastgate Development Lands Ltd.
“Having a wireless tower in this proposed location will place it in extreme proximity to a significant residential development (440 acres), creating an unfavourable situation,” said Berry.
“A tower of this significant height and scale will be an overwhelming and obtrusive structure to our new community. The view to the east of the property lines will use their quaint rural landscape from which the massive span and scale of the support guide wires create.
“The development’s approach is steeped in exploiting the advantages of small-town country living and the reintegration of agriculture into the way of life. With the proposed relocation of the Rogers’ wireless tower, this will be lost.”
In response the applicant said, in part, “A tower such as the one proposed in this area is needed in order to continue providing the coverage and capacity currently being experienced within the town of Carstairs and surrounding area by Roger’s customers.”
During the April 4 SDAB hearing, Eastgate Development Lands reiterated its concerns with the tower’s location and its impact on its residential development.
Eastgate Development's managing director told SDAB members that the tower would negatively impact the residents of the new residential development.
“The proposed tower would be located right across the road and directly east of our development (located at NE 9-30-1-5 and called Kitstone Commons),” said Berry. “The proposed tower would have significant impacts on our development. This project (development) is current; it is not a conceptual idea, it is real.”
Grading of the land is expected to take place this summer, he said, noting Phase 1 will consist of 120 residential lots.
“We do understand that Rogers needs a tower in this area and we are not unreasonably trying to obstruct them," he said. "We simply do not think this is in the right location as it will significantly impact both our development and our future residents.”
During the SDAB hearing, the applicant reiterated the need for the tower at its approved location to meet future customer coverage and capacity needs.
The county’s planning and development department called on the SDAB to uphold the municipal planning commission’s earlier approval.
The SDAB could release its decision on the appeal later this month.
