MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The county’s municipal planning commission has approved a development permit for a proposed communication tower and accessory building in the Bergen area.
The tower will be located about one kilometres south of Township Road 322, east of Range Road 63, at SW 10-32-6-5.
The owner of the $100,000 tower is Inter-Varsity Ministries Foundation, and the applicant is Landsolutions Inc. on behalf of Rogers Communications Inc.
“The applicant is requesting consideration for a 90-metre tall, guyed communication tower with accessory building - equipment cabinet on a 157-acre parcel zoned Parks and Recreation,” administration said in a briefing note to the commission.
The subject parcel contains an active recreational operation known as Pioneer Lodge.
The tower will be located on the easterly side of the parcel, with access from Rge. Rd. 62A, a county-maintained road and all activities will be contained within the 9.88 acres leased area.
The development permit application was circulated to 27 adjacent landowners within one mile of the proposed location, with one letter of objection received.
In the letter of objection, the writer states, in part, “As adjacent landowners, we are very concerned about the long-term health effects that will surely come with the installation of the town, and with having a young family that is not something we wish to endure.
“Along with the radiation and the signals, we are also concerned about light pollution that will come with the installation of the communications tower. There are already two towers, one in Eagle Hill and one approximately 10 miles away, that we see every night that are lightening up the sky.”
In response, the applicant said, in part, “With respect to any impact lighting may have on the amenity of dark skies, a red nighttime-burning light (on the tower) would have minimal impact on stargazing, because red light does not decrease a person’s ability to see in dark conditions.
“Rogers commits to using minimal required lighting and shielded light fixtures to minimize light scatter to nearby properties.”
The approved permit comes with several conditions, including the following:
• The height of the fence that encloses the communication tower shall be a minimum of 1.8 metres high with additional anti-climb measures on the fence and tower.
• Upon no longer utilizing this site, the site will be reclaimed, including the removal of the tower, antennas, cable, equipment, and concrete.
• The applicant and/or operator shall obtain a road use agreement for construction of the tower only, from Mountain View County’s operations department 30 days prior to the proposed construction commencement date.
