A replacement cell tower on PKOLS will be built near the existing one at the summit, even though that will add about $500,000 to the cost of the project, force the removal of trees and create challenges for both construction and maintenance.
District staff had recommended erecting the new tower in the summit parking lot at PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park).
Staff noted it was the relatively inexpensive option at a cost of about $771,000, posed few challenges for construction, would have the least environmental impact and would require no tree removal.
But council sided with local residents in voting unanimously to place the replacement tower adjacent to the existing cell tower.
Mayor Dean Murdock said council’s decision made sense. “That’s already where people expect to find it. There’s been a tower there for 30 years,” he said, noting district staff had given council seven options to choose from.
Taxpayers will not be on the hook for the increase in costs, since revenue from telecommunications providers renting the tower will be used to pay for it.
Council’s decision was popular with local residents who weighed in Monday night, telling council they preferred placing the tower near the existing one to protect the view.
That option comes with a $1.2 million pricetag, will require the removal of five or six mature trees, including arbutus and Garry oaks, and require a temporary road to be built for construction.
Access to the summit is expected to be limited for six to nine months during construction.
The existing tower needs to be replaced before the end of the year due to new federal regulations around wind and weight.
Coun. Colin Plant said he pushed for the option close to the existing tower because he didn’t want to be part of a council that ruined the view at PKOLS.
Plant said the new tower would be a blight if it were installed anywhere other than where the existing tower is.
Coun. Susan Brice said she was moved to support the motion by the spirit of the place.
“My position, like all my colleagues who have spoken in support of the motion, is the almost spiritual feeling one gets when you come to the top of Mount Doug and look out — even if the tower was half the size, it would still break that,” she said.
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