Cell phone tower application highlights Penticton’s need for policy, procedures

PENTICTON – With no city policy or procedures for fielding telecommunications tower requests in Penticton, there’s not much left standing in the way of an application for one in the industrial area.

A report prepared for city council’s regular meeting today, Jan. 22, says Freedom Mobile wants to build an 18-metre high telecommunications tower at 1953 Dartmouth Rd.

Letters have been sent to the neighbours as part of the public consultation process but so far the city hasn't received any concerns or comments regarding the proposal.

The city currently does not have a policy or procedure for dealing with telecommunications tower requests such as this one.

Staff want council to create a policy that includes an application fee to offset the processing costs of the requests, which are estimated at 20 hours for this particular application.

It is anticipated cell phone companies looking at smaller markets to expand their coverage are expected to result in an increase in tower requests to the city.

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