A 35 m high cellphone tower is being proposed for a shopping plaza in Port Coquitlam.
Telus, through a subsidiary agent known as Standard Land Company Inc., said it will initiate a public consultation process for the tower, which the company wants to locate behind the Pharmasave store on Coast Meridian Road.
Laura Lee Richard, the city's director of development services, said it is still early in the process.
In the spring of 2011, Rogers Communications initiated discussions with the city to build a cell tower in Greenmount Park, a proposal that was eventually scuttled after vehement opposition from the public. Neighbours said they feared the tower would ruin the park's tree line view and could jeopardize the health of area residents.
But if Telus is able to move forward with its plans, the city would not have as much power over the process as it did with the 2011 Rogers Communication proposal.
Coun. Michael Wright, chair of the smart growth committee, said because the company intends to build the tower on private land, the city has limited control over the process.
"Because the city doesn't have ownership of it, the city doesn't have as much say on whether it can go there or not," he said.
The telecommunications industry is regulated by the federal government and any tower would have to meet criteria set out by Industry Canada; the company would have to ensure that the public is properly notified of its plans and meet all technical design guidelines and standards. In cases where towers are higher than 15 m, proponents are required to consult with local authorities on land use issues.
Both Wright and Richard said the city will work to keep the public informed as the consultation process moves forward.
