A resident south of Nanaimo who was opposed to a Rogers Communications cellphone tower proposal is satisfied with the compromise.
A tower was proposed for Plecas Road in 2015, very close to Shari Barker’s residence, and besides the proximity, it was located on a slip fault and over an abandoned coal mine.
That plan was abandoned by Rogers.
However, a new proposed site off Extension Road is more agreeable, not only for Barker, but also for the Regional District of Nanaimo as well. Barker said Rogers proposed two sites and the second site, overlooking Cinnabar Valley, is ideal. She said it is a site a majority of residents wanted.
“This one wasn’t much farther away from our house again and it makes more sense, reason being, if they were to put in Option 1, it’s an area where Nanaimo and the RDN uses. It’s like beautiful, pristine forest in there and Option 2 is already logged and has road access ... and the coverage over there covers it better than it does in Option 1,” said Barker.
The regional district board approved a motion Wednesday night to advise Rogers and the Government of Canada that the company had successfully completed consultation with the regional district and no further public consultation was needed.
The regional district supports the tower on the condition it is built in accordance with plans Rogers submitted.
Maureen Young, regional district area director, voted in favour of the motions. She said it is 500 metres away from any residents.
“That’s the key thing. The 500 metres for any kind of residents, daycares, schools, parks, so that would be the key thing for me and I think for the residents too,” said Young.
In an e-mail, Lisa Rossington, Rogers Communications’ spokeswoman, said the company was grateful for community feedback and has the intention of delivering better wireless network coverage in Nanaimo.
Rossington said other carriers have been invited onto Rogers’ tower, which would eliminate the need for other towers in the area.
“The next step includes determining a timeline for construction of the tower,” Rossington said.