This post will be an evolving one through the day as I get more information. The report on staffs recommendation to the Administration & Planning Standing Committee for May 14th, and in turn for Town Council’s review and vote has been released. You can find the link here.
Large File Warning! Its 43 pages and probably a few MB’s so be prepared 🙂
Essentially the recommendation reads like this:
THAT Council adopt the newly revised Telecommunications Facility Policy (“Protocol”) attached as Appendix “A” to Report PD-026-12 as policy, instructing staff to review all specified Telecommunication Facility locations in light of the new criteria;
THAT the Town Clerk be instructed to circulate the newly revised “Protocol” to the Region of Halton, Halton MPP’s, Halton MP’s and to all telecommunication providers, indicating the Town of Milton’s position is that Industry Canada’s protocol needs to be revised to require a formal mandated approval by the local municipality and that Industry Canada should participate more actively in the public consultation process;
AND THAT staff be directed to continue to work with all local telecommunications providers in developing acceptable design alternatives for the general community;
AND FURTHER THAT, with respect to the specific “New Life Church Tower” proposal located at 824 Thompson Road, Milton Council adopt the position of non-concurrence as discussed by staff and outlined in a draft Letter of Non-Concurrence found in Appendix “C” to Report PD-026-12.
More to come as I read through the report today to get the details, but as this report states regarding the Bell Cell tower proposal for New Life Chruch, staff recommends that it not be approved.
Does this mean the deal is dead? Could Industry Canada come back and say, for the lack of better words, screw you and approve it?
It looks like that might be the case.
As an aside Mike, I wanted to echo some of the other comments on your blog. Ive read what one of the posters on the Villager said and I couldnt disagree more. Given our current crop of councillors, and some are good and some are ok, YOU have stood out as a leader in this town on this and a lot of other issues. I wanted to thank you Mike for a job well done.
Warren
Hi Warren…and THANK YOU. I appreciate the comments.
You are right. The deal isnt dead and continues along in the process through Industry Canada. The report states that its non concurrent with our policies and outlines major changes that need to happen for future applications.
I talked out it in my post yesterday. As we grow in size and our population increases we need to have everyone at the table. Telecommunication companies, property oweners, developers, AND Industry Canada.
There has to be more studies done at Health Canada to make sure that these towers dont pose a risk to the public and we need to have discussions before hand on where they will go as we further develop the town. Its an excellent report by staff.
Thank you again for your comments.