Some residents in Calgary’s Lakeview neighbourhood are raising concerns about a proposed 35-metre cellphone tower that could be installed on church property near schools and homes.
Telus wants to build the 35-metre high tower at the northwest corner of Lakeview United Church, located at 3023 63 Avenue SW.
But many locals are saying not so fast. Resident William Lacey launched an online petition opposing the plan, which had over 950 signatures by Friday morning. “There hasn’t been enough consultation, and people are worried about how this could affect property values, safety, and the look of the neighbourhood,” said Lacey.
An open house was held in February after information packages were mailed to homeowners within 300 metres of the proposed site. Residents had until February 22 to submit feedback.
The proposed location sits roughly 90 metres from an elementary school and 150 metres from a junior high. City guidelines recommend towers over 30 metres be placed at least 100 metres from homes and schools, though enforcement isn’t mandatory.
Here’s the location of the proposed Telus tower, set for the northwest corner of the Lakeview United Church property:
Lakeview Community Association president Catherine Cooke says allowing the project could set a troubling example, saying if guidelines aren’t followed then it erodes public trust.
While Telus handles community feedback and declined to comment further, the church hosting the proposed site also referred inquiries back to the telecom. Property owners who host towers are typically paid a share of the revenue, which can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month.
Telus said in a statement to CTV News the tower will “enhance access to emergency services and improve public safety by ensuring that first responders can communicate more quickly and effectively in critical situations.”
We’ve seen residents push back against proposed cell tower locations before, and this case isn’t new.
Final decisions on cell towers rest with the federal government’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), which manages towers under the authority of the Radiocommunication Act. Once Telus files a formal application, the city will circulate it for 21 days to gather input before making its submission to Ottawa.
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Perfect. They can come build a tower in McKenzie Lake near the Esso. Only one bar from both Rogers and TELUS/Bell. There’s an Amazon pickup point that doesn’t work.
How about they add more service to the Calgary airport instead! There's only 1 bar with zero service once you step onto the bridge