Legion’s land-swap deal muddies cell-tower plan
Contentious plans to build an inner-city cellphone tower hit a snag on the weekend as Kensington Legion members approved a deal to swap land where the 25-metre structure was proposed.
In a nearly unanimous decision, more than 200 members of the North Calgary branch No. 264 voted to trade part of the Legion site to a developer in exchange for a new headquarters. A Legion trustee believes that decision has, consequently, cast doubt on the tower’s future.
“It’s not now going to be a cellphone tower,” Mark Barham said Monday. “It’s going to be something less.”
The Legion had not “fleshed out full details” on replacing its more than 50-year-old building, he added, when it signed a lease with the national telecommunications giant last year.
But Telus spokesman Chris Gerritsen refused to speculate on the tower’s likelihood until the Kensington Legion has hashed out the specifics on its new home.
“We understand the situation is evolving and we’re working with them,” Gerritsen said, adding the tower’s lease holds up with whomever owns the property.
Both sides suggested a rooftop antenna was an option, depending on the new building’s height.
Jo Larson, a West Hillhurst resident who lives nearby, wants the tower constructed in an industrial area outside the community. Those opposed to cell towers often contend they’re unsightly and that there are adverse health effects, such as cancer, associated with radio frequency waves.
“I’d be very pleased to know it’s not going in,” Larson said.
“We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Industry Canada, a federal agency, holds the final authority of telecommunications structures. Residents have appealed to the City of Calgary to issue a statement of non-concurrence.
Meanwhile, the Legion’s blueprints have been submit- ted to its commanding office. Barham doesn’t believe there are any showstoppers that would prevent it from being turned back to the developer for further tuning, prior to a contract being signed and the city’s approval sought.
Blueprints show Legion operations occupying the main floor of an 8,000-square-foot, multi-level building, with additional space for commercial tenants.
The developer, which has not been announced, would be able to build on about twothirds of the remaining property in return for funding the new Legion.
Details are expected to be released later this week.
Dwindling membership renewals and a steady mortality rate have plagued the Royal Canadian Legion in recent times. In Kensington, branch officials said the tentative deal could solve its financial woes.
“It would cement the viability of the Legion for a long, long time,” Barham said.