M.D. updates guidelines to site telecommunications towers

By Rob Vogt
The Municipal District of Willow Creek has updated its guidelines on the locations of telecommunications towers.
At its Feb. 11 meeting, the M.D. council reviewed a report from administration explaining the purpose of the amendment is to align and update the telecommunication siting protocol guidelines and corresponding application form.
Discrepancies have been identified between the guidelines and the corresponding application form which necessitates confirmation.
Administration wanted to make minor updates and align requirements in order to achieve consistency between the documents which will eliminate uncertainty for administration, landowners and developers.
Telecommunication towers are exempt from the development permit process, but municipal involvement is provided through a concurrence process which is reflected in the land-use bylaw.
The proposed changes are:
• Clarifying setback requirements to roadways, being 22.9 metres or 75 feet.
• Clarifying landowner notification requirements, being a radius of 1.61 kilometres or one mile.
• Providing for alternative notification methods, such as newspaper and notice postings as opposed to postal mail.
• The application fee for a letter of concurrence being $300, plus costs for notification.
Council then approved the changes.