Proposed Rogers Telecommunication Facility

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Consultation has concluded

Rogers Telecommunications Tower - Photosimulation

The Town of Ajax is in receipt of the above noted Telecommunication Facility Application, submitted by LandSquared, on behalf of Rogers Communications Inc., proposing the installation of a 30.0 metre high telecommunication tower and associated equipment compound area on lands located at the northeast corner of Westney Road North and Magill Drive, municipally known as 475 Westney Road North. The proposed telecommunication tower will be a shrouded monopole and will include an associated compound area with a walk-in radio equipment cabinet. In response to rising demands for wireless voice and data services in the area, Rogers is proposing the installation of this new telecommunication facility to improve wireless services in the area.

The approval of the location and design of telecommunication facilities is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). During this process, the municipal Council is requested, by the applicant, to provide concurrence of the proposed telecommunication facility. If the municipal Council concurs with the proposal, the applicant can proceed through the remaining ISED requirements to install the facility. However, if the municipal Council does not concur with the proposal; the applicant can request that a decision be made by ISED on the matter.

Electronic Public Meeting

We invite you to attend a public meeting to be held electronically on October 4, 2021 at 7 p.m., to comment on the proposed telecommunication facility prior to the consideration of such by the Community Affairs and Planning Committee of the Corporation of the Town of Ajax. A copy of the staff report with recommendations to the Community Affairs and Planning Committee on the proposed telecommunication facility will be available by end of day on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 in the agenda for the meeting, available at ajax.ca/meetings. Alternative formats of documents and materials can be made available upon request in order to assist those who require accessibility accommodations.

How to Participate:

Due to COVID-19, physical attendance is not permitted at the public meeting. This public meeting is being held electronically and will be livestreamed for public viewing at ajax.ca/live. You can make a representation to Council on the proposal in the following ways:

  1. Written Submission
    Written submissions may be provided for Council’s consideration before the meeting. Please submit your written comments before end of day on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 by e-mail to Eric Simpson, Senior Planner, at eric.simpson@ajax.ca. Alternatively, written submissions may be provided below.
  2. Oral Submission
    Oral submissions may be provided for Council’s consideration before the meeting. Please submit your oral comments before end of day on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 by calling 905-619-2529, ext. 3270 and leaving your comments via voicemail message. Please state your full name, address, phone number, and an e-mail address in your message.
  3. Participation in Zoom Meeting
    To make oral representations at the meeting on livestream, you must pre-register with the Clerk’s office by contacting clerks@ajax.ca before 12 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2021. Please include your full name, address, and a call-back number. You will be contacted by the Clerk’s office to confirm your participation and receive the online and call-in information before the meeting. Technical assistance may be provided to ensure that you are able to participate.

If you wish to be notified of Council’s decision on the proposed telecommunication facility, you must make a written request to the Town of Ajax, 65 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax, Ontario, L1S 2H9 or by e-mail to Eric Simpson, Senior Planner, at eric.simpson@ajax.ca.

For more information about this matter, please contact Eric Simpson, Senior Planner, at eric.simpson@ajax.ca or 905-619-2529, ext. 3247.

Past Community Information Meeting

We invited the public to attend a community information meeting to learn more about this proposal, identify concerns, and to provide comments. The community information meeting was held at Ajax Town Hall on November 28, 2019 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Additional Information

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Telecommunication tower/antenna facilities are exclusively regulated by Federal legislation under the Radiocommunication Act and administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Therefore, Provincial legislation such as the Planning Act, does not apply to these facilities. Telecommunication facility proponents are required to follow the public consultation and notification process set out by a municipality in its Council approved telecommunication facility protocol. The Town of Ajax has an approved telecommunication facility protocol, which is being utilized for public consultation and notification of the proposed telecommunication facility. However, as noted above, all other matters related to the installation of a proposed telecommunication facility are regulated by Federal legislation.

ISED

Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 Compliance

Health Canada’s role is to protect the health of Canadians, so it is their responsibility to research and investigate any possible health effects associated with exposure to electromagnetic energy, such as that coming from cell phones and antenna base stations. Health Canada has developed guidelines for safe human exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy, which are commonly known as Safety Code 6. This regulation has been adopted by ISED and carrier compliance is mandatory. Rogers attests that the proposed telecommunication facility will comply with Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 limits, as may be amended from time to time, for the protection of the general public, including any combined effects of additional carrier co-locations and nearby installations within the local radio environment. For more information on Safety Code 6, please visit healthcanada.gc.ca/radiation

Questions or comments about this project?

Contact any of the project managers listed in the Who's Listening (right sidebar).

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

The Town of Ajax is in receipt of the above noted Telecommunication Facility Application, submitted by LandSquared, on behalf of Rogers Communications Inc., proposing the installation of a 30.0 metre high telecommunication tower and associated equipment compound area on lands located at the northeast corner of Westney Road North and Magill Drive, municipally known as 475 Westney Road North. The proposed telecommunication tower will be a shrouded monopole and will include an associated compound area with a walk-in radio equipment cabinet. In response to rising demands for wireless voice and data services in the area, Rogers is proposing the installation of this new telecommunication facility to improve wireless services in the area.

The approval of the location and design of telecommunication facilities is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). During this process, the municipal Council is requested, by the applicant, to provide concurrence of the proposed telecommunication facility. If the municipal Council concurs with the proposal, the applicant can proceed through the remaining ISED requirements to install the facility. However, if the municipal Council does not concur with the proposal; the applicant can request that a decision be made by ISED on the matter.

Electronic Public Meeting

We invite you to attend a public meeting to be held electronically on October 4, 2021 at 7 p.m., to comment on the proposed telecommunication facility prior to the consideration of such by the Community Affairs and Planning Committee of the Corporation of the Town of Ajax. A copy of the staff report with recommendations to the Community Affairs and Planning Committee on the proposed telecommunication facility will be available by end of day on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 in the agenda for the meeting, available at ajax.ca/meetings. Alternative formats of documents and materials can be made available upon request in order to assist those who require accessibility accommodations.

How to Participate:

Due to COVID-19, physical attendance is not permitted at the public meeting. This public meeting is being held electronically and will be livestreamed for public viewing at ajax.ca/live. You can make a representation to Council on the proposal in the following ways:

  1. Written Submission
    Written submissions may be provided for Council’s consideration before the meeting. Please submit your written comments before end of day on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 by e-mail to Eric Simpson, Senior Planner, at eric.simpson@ajax.ca. Alternatively, written submissions may be provided below.
  2. Oral Submission
    Oral submissions may be provided for Council’s consideration before the meeting. Please submit your oral comments before end of day on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 by calling 905-619-2529, ext. 3270 and leaving your comments via voicemail message. Please state your full name, address, phone number, and an e-mail address in your message.
  3. Participation in Zoom Meeting
    To make oral representations at the meeting on livestream, you must pre-register with the Clerk’s office by contacting clerks@ajax.ca before 12 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2021. Please include your full name, address, and a call-back number. You will be contacted by the Clerk’s office to confirm your participation and receive the online and call-in information before the meeting. Technical assistance may be provided to ensure that you are able to participate.

If you wish to be notified of Council’s decision on the proposed telecommunication facility, you must make a written request to the Town of Ajax, 65 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax, Ontario, L1S 2H9 or by e-mail to Eric Simpson, Senior Planner, at eric.simpson@ajax.ca.

For more information about this matter, please contact Eric Simpson, Senior Planner, at eric.simpson@ajax.ca or 905-619-2529, ext. 3247.

Past Community Information Meeting

We invited the public to attend a community information meeting to learn more about this proposal, identify concerns, and to provide comments. The community information meeting was held at Ajax Town Hall on November 28, 2019 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Additional Information

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Telecommunication tower/antenna facilities are exclusively regulated by Federal legislation under the Radiocommunication Act and administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Therefore, Provincial legislation such as the Planning Act, does not apply to these facilities. Telecommunication facility proponents are required to follow the public consultation and notification process set out by a municipality in its Council approved telecommunication facility protocol. The Town of Ajax has an approved telecommunication facility protocol, which is being utilized for public consultation and notification of the proposed telecommunication facility. However, as noted above, all other matters related to the installation of a proposed telecommunication facility are regulated by Federal legislation.

ISED

Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 Compliance

Health Canada’s role is to protect the health of Canadians, so it is their responsibility to research and investigate any possible health effects associated with exposure to electromagnetic energy, such as that coming from cell phones and antenna base stations. Health Canada has developed guidelines for safe human exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy, which are commonly known as Safety Code 6. This regulation has been adopted by ISED and carrier compliance is mandatory. Rogers attests that the proposed telecommunication facility will comply with Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 limits, as may be amended from time to time, for the protection of the general public, including any combined effects of additional carrier co-locations and nearby installations within the local radio environment. For more information on Safety Code 6, please visit healthcanada.gc.ca/radiation

Questions or comments about this project?

Contact any of the project managers listed in the Who's Listening (right sidebar).

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

Consultation has concluded

Please add your questions about the proposed Telecommunications Tower at  475 Westney Road North, Ajax, ON. 

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    Hello, We reside right beside where this tower is proposed, hence highly condemn this project going forth! Although the notice states that this is safe according to the the code but who are we kidding? These are EM waves we are talking about and we all know us folks living beside this will be effected the most. As it is, we are exposing ourselves and our kids to a lot of it already in this time of age and we certainly DO NOT want another pole or source of any sort being built in our back yards to harm our family’s wellbeing. If there’s a dire need for this so called tower, it should be built in a non-residential area where it can be beneficial rather than being harmful in nature. Hope this can be put forth at the upcoming open house meeting. Please and thank you! B. Zaru.

    Zara asked over 4 years ago

    Thank you for your email and for voicing your concerns. Your email will form part of the public record for this file; however, I encourage you to attend the public information meeting as well. 

    I understand your concerns regarding the EM waves and potential health risk, but I have to stress that all towers must comply with Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 Guidelines for exposure to radio frequency fields. These Guidelines are the approved federal standard to ensure public health and safety and are beyond the jurisdiction of the Town. The applicant will be able to provide further details on this matter via email or at the public information meeting. 

    To provide you with some background information and knowledge about the telecommunication tower process, I offer the following comments:

    The Town of Ajax is not the approval authority for telecommunication tower and antenna facilities. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC) is the federal government body responsible for radio and telecommunication carriers under the Radiocommunication Act. ISEDC approves the installation of telecommunication towers and antenna facilities. ISEDC encourages municipalities to develop their own consultation policies in order to manage the process of identifying Town and resident concerns relating to such installations. As the Town has created a policy for these matters, any telecommunication proposals must follow the Town’s consultation process.

    The Town’s policy provides guidance on the Town’s preferences for the location and design of telecommunication facilities. Under the Town’s policy, the subject lands (475 Westney Road North) are considered to be a “discouraged” location for a tower. This is because the lands are zoned and designated for mixed-use development. The Town’s preferred locations are within Employment Areas. Since the applicant (Rogers and their consultant LandSquared) is proposing a tower within one of the Town’s discouraged locations, the applicant is required to justify why the proposed location is the only feasible solution. Through the submission of a site selection report (which is available on the Town’s website), the applicant has indicated that this location is a strategic location to help fill a gap in the network and enhance services. The report also indicates that there are no existing structures in the area of sufficient height to accommodate the antennas (this can often be used as an approach to avoid having a new tower installation).

    Due to the proposed location, the applicant is also required to provide a notice (via mail) of the proposal and hold a public information meeting in conjunction with the Town (whereas if the proposal was in one of the Town’s preferred locations, it would be exempt from consultation and automatically receive support). As you are aware, the public information meeting has been scheduled for November 28th. The whole intent of this meeting is to hear the concerns and feedback of the public. Some concerns raised at the meeting can be addressed by providing an explanation (for certain matters); however, other concerns involve further consideration and may involve making changes to the proposal to address such concerns. No decisions have been made.

    Following the public information meeting and continued review of the proposal, staff will issue a concurrence (support) or non-concurrence (non-support) letter to the applicant. This is supported by a staff recommendation report which is heard at a public meeting by the Town’s Community Affairs and Planning Committee (Council). The Committee will then take a position on the proposed tower based on the recommendation report and public concerns and make a resolution for concurrence or non-concurrence.

    Where non-concurrence is recommended by staff and supported by the Committee, this does not necessarily mean that that the installation of the proposed tower will not proceed. After all, the Town is not the approval authority. ISEDC will consider the Town’s position and whether the proposed installation meets their requirements before issuing a decision.

    Please let me know if you have any questions.