Despite it being voted against twice, Hastings Highlands council has now approved a Rogers 5G cell tower near the west end of the village of Maynooth.
The vote was brought back a third time by Mayor Tony Fitzgerald, as part of the mayor’s report for the July 17 council meeting, where it was passed 4-3.
The lack of notice meant residents did not have the allotted time to present a delegation or reintroduce their petition for a public meeting.
Despite the short timeline, so many concerns were sent through public comment to the municipality that it took clerk Suzanne Huschilt over twenty minutes to read them all out loud at the start of Wednesday’s meeting.
Concerns raised included those over protocol not being followed, lack of public consultation, the destruction of Maynooth’s rural, heritage skyline and a lack of understanding over the apparently non-negotiable chosen location.
The tower is approved for 84 Petersen Road, which is land owned by the Catholic Church.
After the tower was voted through at the July 17 council meeting, MooseFm spoke with several residents who had shared their concerns at the meeting.
“People come to Maynooth because they want to come to a place that reminds them of how things used to be…And the fact that the cell tower is going to now loom over the town… it will have an impact on the interest that people have in this place. It sort of spoils the view and the very reasons that people come here.”
“The whole process didn’t seem genuine… There just doesn’t seem to be any reason that they’re not being open minded to look at a location that perhaps would be less intrusive.”
“People are just starting to find out about it and the more people that find out about it, the more upset people we have.”
“The jurisdiction of the Land Use Authority (in this case the municipality) is to point out what is a community sensitive location, to listen to its residents.”
“EORN (Eastern Ontario Rural Network) says that they’re trying to improve quality of life for the people here. But aren’t we the ones who can make the decisions about what will or won’t improve the quality of our lives?”
The stated goal of EORN, which is overseeing the Cell Gap Project, is to bring connectivity to underserved regions, thereby contributing to economic growth and safety in rural communities.
Those voting in favor of the tower emphasized the need to bring cell service to current area gaps such as the one on Peterson Rd, stating cell service was essential for emergency services and the safety of the community.
Maynooth residents repeatedly told MooseFM that they did not dispute this, but could not understand why a tower right in Maynooth had been presented as the only option.
“Why was a lease signed with Rogers before the site was approved by the land use authority? and then saying that the municipality could get sued… how does that even make sense? who builds a building if they don’t have the permits yet?”
“It was never addressed that the site is in an objectively terrible, community sensitive location, instead Maynooth residents who questioned it (the tower) were cast as bumpkins or conspiracy theorists who didn’t care about community safety.”
Residents also expressed dismay that solicitors for EORN and the municipality had stated that community concerns over the tower had been met, as Rogers had ‘listened to the community’ and agreed to shorten the tower (to 70 metres from 90 metres) which would ‘typically’ not require lighting.
Residents pointed out that a 70 metre tower would still have a terrible impact on the Maynooth village skyline. They also noted that, after one year, regulation states that Rogers can increase the tower height without consulting the municipality. Rogers also could not guarantee there would be no lights on the tower, as that is not under their regulating authority.
Maynooth residents say they are only asking that Rogers endeavour to move the tower slightly to the west, towards the area where Rogers has always stated they are looking to improve the service.
Maynooth currently has both 4G and 5G coverage.
Many noted that no concrete evidence had been given as to why only one tower location could be considered, merely threats of litigation and broad statements such as the whole cellular network was “part of a puzzle”.
“If it’s part of a puzzle” one resident asked, “Why aren’t we being shown all the pieces?”
An earlier article on the tower can be found here:
HH council votes against proposed cell tower next to Maynooth – My Bancroft Now
A link to the start of public comment period can be found here:
