Opposition to cell tower in Wildfield continues
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

Wildfield residents are continuing their opposition to the placement of a cell tower by Bell Mobility on a residential property in their hamlet.

Some residents brought their concerns to Caledon council recently.

Spokesperson Dan O'Reilly said they understand the Town's planning department and other agencies are still reviewing the Bell application and any decision council makes can be overruled by Industry Canada. He added, though, federal agencies do work closely with municipalities and have a high regard for their input.

The residents want council to oppose the application because it doesn't meet the Town's own protocol for e s t a b l i s h i n g t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s facilities.

O'Reilly pointed out a section of the document says: "proposals for new telecommunication facilities will have to be evaluated on a site-by-site basis to determine sensitivity."

"We can assure you this tower won't be sensitive to the adjacent homeowners or Wildfield as a whole," O'Reilly said. "It will dominate the landscape, stick out like a sore thumb and seriously impinge on the character and dignity of St. Patrick's Church, which at most, is only 1,200 feet away."

Bell Mobility originally proposed erecting the cell tower at the church, but now it wants to place it at 12061 The Gore Rd.

O'Reilly noted letters have been sent to Bell Mobility asking it to find another location that is not within 1,500 feet of St. Patrick's school, not at the church and not within Wildfield.

"There is no reason Bell couldn't consider installing cell towers in field away from residential areas," he said. "This should apply throughout Caledon and not just Wildfield, but Bell doesn't want to do that because of the additional power installation costs."

He urged the Town and the City of Brampton to conduct a joint comprehensive planning study of Wildfield.

Councillor Richard Whitehead said it's important to go through the planning study for Wildfield and its impact areas.

"As a hamlet it's threatened unless we do something meaningful from a planning point of view," he said.

He agreed there's a need for a joint planning report and said it's ridiculous to put a cell tower in Wildfield. He hopes when the report comes to council they'll be in opposition to the current application.

Planning director Mary Hall told council Bell Mobility must send a site plan to the Town. It's the Town's preference Bell colocates on to an existing tower..

O'Reilly said one day the public will wake up with all these cell towers around Caledon.

Council requested staff bring a report back on the possibility of a combined mini-community Wildfield study with Brampton.