Council opposed to tower location
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

In an 8-0 vote, Caledon council agreed last Tuesday to send a planning and development report to Industry Canada opposing the proposed location of a telecommunications tower by Bell Mobility Inc. in Wildfield.

Bell Mobility wants to put the tower at 12061 The Gore Rd., just north of Mayfield Road, but there's been strong opposition from Wildfield residents.

Town planners commented in their report the proposed tower would be visually incompatible with the historic hamlet. They suggested Bell Mobility pursue a different location for the proposed tower.

Wildfield resident Dan O'Reilly urged council to approve the planning department report and send it off to Industry Canada which regulates telecommunications facilities. Industry Canada requires proponents of telecommunications facilities to consult with local land use authorities.

Stephen D'Agostino of Thomson Rogers, solicitor for Bell Mobility, told council this facility has a history and has been moved to a second preferred location. He added it's a 37-metre- high tower with much more efficient antennae. He said the appropriate thing would be to approve it.

In supporting Town staff's recommendation, Councillor Richard Whitehead said the residents not only don't want the tower near St. Patrick's Church, they don't want it anywhere in the hamlet. He believes Bell Mobility can find a third location outside the hamlet.