Osoyoos neighbours Martin Sadd (left) and Jacob de Raadt were the first local citizens to come forward to voice their concerns about a proposed 35-metre cellphone tower Rogers Communications was hoping to erect near 92nd Aveune on private property just north of town limits. Mayor Sue McKortoff said negotiations continue with Rogers and she’s confident a new and more appropriate site for a cellphone tower can be found. (Keith Lacey file photo)
It appears that management from Rogers Communications has listened to the concerns raised by Osoyoos and area residents and is prepared to change the location of a proposed cellphone tower on the north end of town.
“Believe me, this tower won’t be sitting out in a field any time soon,” said Town of Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff, who has been in regular discussions with Rogers’ management over the past month since concerns about the proposed 35-metre (105-foot) cellphone tower became public.
Rogers had applied to erect the cellphone tower on private property in a vineyard located near 92nd Avenue on a parcel of land located in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS).
McKortoff acknowledged that even though the proposed cellphone tower would be located on RDOS property, she and members of senior administration with the town have received numerous complaints about this project for more than one month.
The issue first became public in early February when two local residents – Martin Sadd and Jacob de Raadt – voiced their concerns about this large cellphone tower being erected near their homes.
Sadd and de Raadt started circulating a petition opposing the location of the cellphone tower in their neighbourhood and that petition has now been signed by hundreds of local residents over the past several weeks.
At the time, Rogers’ corporate communications spokesperson Andrew Garas said the company wanted to build a new cellphone tower in Osoyoos to dramatically improve the service being offered to customers in and around town.
Rogers had looked for a location in Osoyoos to “dramatically improve services, while having as little impact on the community as possible,” said Garas.
McKortoff said she and Mark Pendergraft, chair of the board with the RDOS, have been in discussions with Rogers’ representative Sam Sugita on a regular basis and she believes the company is amenable to changing the location of the proposed cellphone tower to another location.
Rogers remains open to holding a public hearing about its cellphone tower proposal in Osoyoos, but that won’t take place any time soon as negotiations will continue to find a suitable solution where Rogers can build a new cellphone tower in a more appropriate location, said McKortoff.
“We’re still in discussions and there’s really no use in holding a public hearing until those negotiations are completed,” she said. “The company remains open to eventually holding a public hearing to answer questions from the public, but that won’t be taking place any time soon as negotiations will continue between Rogers and the town and the RDOS.
“There’s no need to hold a public hearing right now as we don’t believe it would be advantageous to hold one at this time while negotiations continue. Once we have something more concrete in place, then that will change.”
While Rogers appears committed to building a new cellphone tower in Osoyoos, they have listened to the concerns of local residents and appear willing to find a more suitable location and perhaps reconsider the size of a new tower, she said.
One location on top of a downtown building is being considered and would involve a much smaller tower, she said.
“Right now we’re looking at all of the options and we still need to meet face-to-face with management to look at all of those options,” said McKortoff.
Sugita will be making an appearance before the RDOS board on April 16 to discuss the cellphone tower issue in Osoyoos, said McKortoff.
McKortoff has been very impressed with the response from Rogers’ management since this issue became public.
“They are more than willing to work with us and come up with a solution that everyone will be happy with,” she said.
Sadd and de Raadt remain opposed to the building of any new cellphone tower in Osoyoos, but insist that if one is allowed, it should be built near the town’s industrial park away from any residential neighbourhood.
“If a new tower is required, we have an industrial park where industrial equipment should be located,” he said. “If you look around, many of the cellphone towers are located high up on hills surrounding towns, which requires much shorter towers and it removes the risks to inhabitants and negative health effects.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
