Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

City council approves bylaw changes governing cell towers, some driveways

Jul 8, 2024 | 6:00 AM

City council some changes to thew Land Use Bylaw governing cell phone towers and driveway access along arterial roads at its meeting July 2.

Cell Towers

The changes for cell phone towers include improving public notification by requiring cell tower builders to putting up a sign that measures at least four feet by eight feet on the site of the proposed tower and notifying all residents that live within a radius of six times the height of the proposed tower.

A city committee had asked administration in May to bring back changes to the Land Use Bylaw that would improve communication with the public about where such towers are being put up and for those building them to use ways to camouflage these towers.

What the city calls “cell tower shrouding” is already encouraged in the bylaw, but staff says a new amendment emphasizes that council wants those putting up towers to use “camouflages techniques in tower design.”

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City staff add that tower builders would talk with the city about what kind of shrouding would be used.

Councillor Gladys Blackmore brought up a concern that the shrouding be maintained as it often isn’t in some places.

Driveways on arterial roads

These changes include ones that limit direct driveway access from residential sites onto arterial roads to instances where there are no other alternatives like back lane access.

Administration says this would reduce congestion and delays and mean improved safety and efficiency.

Existing driveways on arterial roads will stay in place but can’t be widened or relocated. New neighbourhoods will be planned to make sure there is no direct vehicle access from residential development sites to arterial roads.

The main area impacted by these changes is along 100 Avenue between 96 and 92 Streets.

The changes also include combining all regulations governing driveways into one section of the bylaw.

These ideas came from a city study on transportation rather than as a request from council or a city committee.