Recent artist rendering of the proposed tower as viewed from homes in Currie Barracks.
We prepared the image below to emphasize the drastic difference between ROGERS rendering and viewpoint of the structure and what the majority of residents will actually see from their homes. VIEW ROGERS ORIGINAL NOTICE
Imagine buying a home and finding out days after moving in that this is going to be your view for the next 30 years - A ten story industrial structure towering over your home. Add to that the fact that had you known you would have never purchased.
This is the harsh new reality of dozens of new property buyers in the new Canada Lands development of Currie Barracks. http://www.curriebarracks.com
This is not a case of caveat emptor it is a combination of a process that failed to protect the Canadian consumer and a simple omission; or understatement in a federal cell tower submission that has left home buyers asking who was looking out for the interests of the taxpayer.
There was absolutely no way for home buyers to know, there were no signs - no notices delivered to them - nobody informed them - nobody.
ROGERS knew this land would have homes directly adjacent to their tower. Why did they submit a proposal that did not clearly show the development lot lines to Industry Canada or to the department in the City of Calgary that reviews cell tower applications?
ROGERS proposal clearly shows the land adjacent to the city as "not developed", however this was in fact NOT the case as the actual development plan was passed through the City of Calgary in January 2011, two months BEFORE ROGERS open house to the community.
The land had a development plan in place with lot lines clearly delimited in the development plan at the time of submission. Rogers simply neglected to provide this important information to Industry Canada.
As you can see above this is very relevant information to the home buyers in Currie Barracks some who had purchased lots before, during, and after the consultation period with no way of knowing.
This is very pertinent information to people who have invested their lives savings into a lot/home who otherwise given this information would have never bought property in Currie Barracks.
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Click on the Map above to View PDF of affected areas
In April of 2010 property owners in the Calgary community of Rutland Park received a notice with photos informing them of an open house ROGERS Communications Inc. was holding. The meeting was regarding a proposed 25 meter (82') wireless tower that was to be placed on the Calgary Grace Lutheran Church property. The tower would be freestanding with a cross on it to hide the antennae and dish components.
Rogers was required to notify property owners within 300 meters of the proposed tower base.
Many residents and property owners began to realize this tower would be much taller than first envisioned As many property owners simply glanced at the photo provided by Rogers. The photo was a before and after depiction. The perspective made the freestanding tower look slightly shorter than the existing steeple, when in fact the opposite was true. This was discovered when residents compared the actual site drawings they requested from Rogers to the original photos.
In fact the tower was to be almost twice the height!
Residents suggest this was a timely decision for ROGERS to get the tower proposal before the city before the land developer , Canada Lands completed their development ( www.CurrieBarracks.com ) adjacent to the tower base. Waiting would mean more residents and surely more public objections given the fact many of these new properties are within 100 meters of the proposed towers base. The asking prices of these properties would surely be affected. This would be contrary to Rogers opinions that property values are not affected as they have stated in the past to Industry Canada , citing property values are not affected by cell towers1
This was definitely not a start to a trusting relationship between a company and residents not to mention the Church in the middle of the entire concern.
As residents we have come together to have our voices heard by all parties by the use of a petition which was launched within days of learning of the tower.
Concerns of property values and health are paramount as well community appeal and trust with the church has been affected as well.
Many would like to see the tower to be moved and placed on city land away from our homes. Many strongly oppose this structure as that is is also elevated on a hill above the community and will be completely out of scale with its surroundings. Hiding it with a cross will do nothing to change the negative effect it will have on its local surroundings, adjacent buildings, and overall community at large.
At the open house conducted by ROGERS residents were faced with the harsh reality that they really had no real input into the process and the meeting was more to inform the public then ask for real consultation.
Recent news of the 10 year international Interphone study, a recent meeting by Standing Committee on Health on EMF in Ottawa , and a recent letter to the City of Calgary from ROGERS2 and Telus3 have all heightened the debate on health, property value, and the ultimate power of telcos and Industry Canada.
Although this fight is in our community many feel this is a national issue with solutions needed to come from the top at the Federal Level before our cities are visually polluted and public fears go unchecked.
Many communities lately are faced with the system that fails to provide the taxpayers any real input into the process as we are told consumer demand and competition are just cause. What other industry can anyone think of has this power to visually pollute our lives and quite possibly, however inconclusively effect our health and welfare?
1Report On: the National Antenna Tower Policy Review - Rogers Communications, Inc. Formal Written Submission to Industry Canada
2Rogers Letter to City of Calgary roger-letter.pdf
3Telus letter to City of Calgary telus-letter.pdf
