Rogers Communications is looking to install a new cell phone tower on land owned by the City of Duncan at 1091 Marchmont Rd., where the city’s public works yard is located.
The communications company has informed the city that the site has been identified as a preferred location for a cell tower based on Rogers’ review of potential locations and signal-path surveys across the city.
Rogers said the proposed new cell phone tower is intended to improve service and reliability for the local area.
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“Cell phones are critical communications devices within the community at all times, and particularly during an emergency or natural disaster,” The communications company said.
“The next step in the process is a public consultation regarding the proposed cell tower installation. The process will be led entirely by Rogers and its consultants. The City of Duncan is not involved in this process, but will receive a summary of the feedback provided. Following the public consultation process, the results will be presented to city council for a final determination on proceeding.”
After receiving a significant amount of negative feedback from its residents, the Municipality of North Cowichan decided last May not to allow Rogers to place two new cell towers on municipally owned land.
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The wireless technology that cell phone towers use had raised health concerns, and many neighbours in the areas where the towers were proposed to be located contacted North Cowichan urging the municipality to have Rogers place the tower far away from their homes, or not allow it in their area at all.
If the City of Duncan allows the cell tower to be placed in its public works yard, the company said lease revenue from it would be provided to the city under a long term agreement.
The company said the upcoming public consultation process on the tower proposal, with times and dates yet to be announced, will follow the formal process established by Industry Canada under the Radiocommunication Act.
More information on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada process is available at https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf08777.html