More than 100 residents in the John Street Road area have signed a petition in opposition to the construction of a telecommunications tower in their neighbourhood.
Residents submitted the petition to city council on Monday night and requested the city look at other locations for Bell Mobility’s proposed tower.
Officials with Bell said the 50-metre tall tower will bring better wireless service to the Thunder Bay area. The planned location is near the end of Regina Avenue, about 250 metres from John Street Road.
Those who spoke with Tbnewswatch.com on Sunday said their biggest concern about the tower was the flashing light on top.
Joe Talarico, 22, has lived on John Street Road his entire life. He said it didn’t make sense to him to have the tower build near the end of Regina Avenue when there is better space available.
“It’s basically in our backyard,” Talarico said. “The beacon isn’t very appealing and there are towers already around here up on high hill. That would be probably be better suited for a tower. I don’t know how bright that light is going to be and I don’t know if it is going to be shining down on our house.”
Frank Armiento has lived in the neighbourhood for 26 years and shared Talarico’s opinion. He said he thought the tower would be better suited over in the Belrose Road area where there are already towers constructed.
“I’m not saying they shouldn’t built it but it is just that if there are other towers at another location that’s not too far away why not locate it there,” Armiento said. “The only other problem I had with it was the flashing light and basically how it is going to be operated. I guess it would have to be flashing for planes.”
At-large Coun. Ken Boshcoff said Bell didn’t need approval from city council to go ahead with construct but he hoped that they would listen to the concerns from the area residents.
“It’s the truest neighbourhood concern,” Boshcoff said. “People invested into properties and then all of a sudden 162-feet industrial power is looming right on top of them. They have a very valid case.”
Boshcoff added that he planned to bring forward a motion calling on Bell to reconsider the site.
By law, Bell is required to keep residents informed, who live within a 300-metre radius of the tower's location.
--- Follow Jeff Labine on Twitter: @Labine_reporter
