Telus asked to shift cell towers uphill

Regional director points to ‘public outcry’ over 2 towers proposed in Naramata

Telus is being asked to look at different locations for two proposed cell towers in Naramata.

At Thursday’s Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) meeting, the board voted in favour of postponing a decision so that Telus could look at new locations farther up the hillside.

RDOS board chair Karla Kozakevich, the director for electoral area E (Naramata), made the motion to ask Telus to look at changing the locations. She said there is a “huge amount of public outcry” about cell towers. The RDOS has received numerous letters opposing the towers and two letters of support.

“I have received numerous complaints via telephone calls against the cell towers. I see both sides of the issue. I know some want improved service while other residents don’t want the towers at all,” she said.

“While I would like to see improved service, I’d like to respect the constituents who are complaining.”

The proposed height of the towers has increased too, said Kozakevich. They have gone from seven to 15 metres tall, she said.

“Also, there is a distillery, a restaurant and wineries there. These businesses are saying Naramata Road (where the towers are being proposed) is a tourism route,” she pointed out.

Tom Siddon, RDOS director for Okanagan Falls and Kaleden, called the towers “ugly” and said he doesn’t like seeing them on major routes into the Okanagan.

“There are those ugly towers on the entrance to Penticton and the one on Highway 3A at Hedley.”

Telus held a public meeting in November and was asked by residents to look at relocating farther south, said Kozakevich. Telus sent letters to a few residents that a new location had been found for one of the poles, but too few members of the public know about that, she said.

“We are begging for Wi-Fi service in areas. In order to bring that, there has to be give and take. It’s great to look at alternative locations, but we don’t want to chase these companies away,” said Helena Konanz, a Penticton city councillor and the director for electoral area D (Penticton).

In 2014, Naramata residents opposed a Telus tower that was going to be put on private property at the KVR Trail. Residents were upset that it would ruin the view and impact property values nearby.