December 9rd, 2021
Councillor Patty Cuttell, District 11
Shared Tower
1375 North Service Road East, Unit 104
Oakville, ON L6H 1A7
Proposed Telecommunications Structure in Halifax, NS (STCE001)
Shared Tower Inc. is proposing a new 30 metre monopole in the commercial plaza on Herring Cove Road to serve as an alternative location to the large Rogers Communications Inc. tower being decommissioned nearby in the Shaw Wilderness Park. In order to continue providing exceptional network service to their customers, Rogers Communications & Shared Tower are proposing this new tower in order to provide a seamless experience for their customers once the existing tower is decommissioned.
Alternative locations were explored, including the telecommunications tower next door, but due to the heavy equipment loading by two other carriers, there was no longer room available for colocation at the heights required for the area.
When providing the due diligence for the site, Shared Tower Inc. searched for locations in which the tower could be set back as far as possible from residential properties while still delivering the valuable coverage Rogers Communications seeks to provide. The commercial plaza and location selected offers the greatest setback from nearby residential properties, while the style of pole was selected to blend in with the urban commercial property. The style of pole will have a minimal visual impact, as the off white colour will blend in with the skyline and the flush mounted antennas will allow the tower to be in line with urban lightpole and hydro pole styles.
The thirty-metre (30m) monopole style telecommunications tower is proposed to be installed on a seven and half metre by three and half metre (7.50m x 3.50m) portion of PID # 40875163 located off Herring Cove Road, Halifax, NS. The proposed tower is set back eighty-one metres (81m) from Herring Cove Road at the approximate co-ordinates: 44°37’00.5”N 63°36’56.4”W. Shared Tower Site Code: STEC001.
https://meet.google.com/kze-pwzd-dfq Or dial: (CA) +1 289-323-1505 PIN: 639 868 328#., to allow members of the community and general public an opportunity for comments and questions regarding Shared Tower’s proposal.
Please reach out to the LandSquared Municipal Affairs Team via email at municipal@landsquared.com or by phone at (647) 241-2788 to register for the online open house information session in advance.
Shared Tower Inc.’s proposed tower will be designed for colocation by multiple cellular service providers, as well as internet service providers. All Canadian carriers use third party towers and understand that colocation is a viable option for their networks.
The proposed location for the telecommunication facility was chosen in response to an urgent need for Rogers Communications Inc. to continue providing cellular service to the Spryfield area, as their current tower in the Shaw Wilderness Park will be decommissioned. Shared Tower Inc. is proposing a much shorter tower (30 metres in height) in the commercial plaza on Herring Cove Road, which is approximately 498 metres away from the existing and soon to be decommissioned 63 metre Rogers Communications Inc. tower.
Prior to Shared Tower Inc.’s proposed application, Rogers Communications Inc. reviewed other alternative locations, including any colocation opportunity available. Through this process, no alternative locations were deemed satisfactory due to their proximity to nearby residential properties. When searching for colocation opportunities, the neighbouring Bell Mobility tower was examined but it was determined to be unsuitable for colocation due to its current equipment loading. As confirmed by the third-party engineering firm Varcon Consulting Engineers (Figure 1), the current tower would not be deemed structurally capable of supporting the addition of the Rogers Communications equipment from their soon to be decommissioned tower. With two national carriers on the Bell Mobility tower, adding Rogers Communications telecommunications equipment would not be deemed to be structurally safe or reach the heights needed to provide adequate cellular service to the community.
The commercial plaza and location selected offers the greatest setback from nearby residential properties, while the style of pole was selected to blend in with the urban commercial property. The style of pole will have a minimal visual impact, as the off-white colour will blend in with the skyline and the flush mounted antennas will allow the tower to be in line with urban lightpole and hydro pole styles.
Shared Tower Inc. in collaboration with Rogers Communications Inc. have determined the proposed wireless telecommunication proposal is necessary to ensure continued excellent network service for Rogers Communications Inc. customers in the community.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada requires owners of telecommunications structures to allow other carriers to locate their antennae on existing structures. It is possible that in the future other carriers might request access to the proposed structure. Shared Tower will work with carriers to ensure that all colocation options are explored.
Local Land Use Authority: Halifax Regional Municipality
This Letter is being provided as per Administrative Order 2015-005-GOV - Siting of a Telecommunication Antenna. Copies of the administrative order and further information regarding HRM’s telecommunications tower siting policy can be found on the municipality’s planning website: https://www.halifax.ca/business/planning-development/telecommunications
As part of the public consultation process, a thirty (30) day comment period is provided.
We welcome feedback through email, standard mail and by phone. Closing date for submission of the public comments is January 20, 2022.
Please forward any comments or questions to:
Attn: Leticia Avanse, Municipal Specialist
1375 North Service Road East, Unit 104
Oakville, ON L6H 1A7
Phone: 647-241-2788
Email: municipal@landsquared.com
Nova Scotia District Office
50 Brown Avenue
Dartmouth NS B3B 1X8
Phone: 1-855-465-6307
Fax: 902-426-1000
Email: spectrumnsdspectredne@ised-isde.gc.ca
Antenna Systems are exclusively regulated by Federal legislation under the Radiocommunication Act and administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Therefore, Provincial legislation such as the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, including zoning by-laws, do not apply to these facilities. It is important to understand that Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, while requiring applicants to follow the Municipality’s Siting of a Telecommunication Antenna System Administrative Order, makes the final decision on whether an antenna system can be constructed. The Municipality is provided the opportunity to influence the location and design of proposed antenna systems by commenting to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, but does not have the authority to approve or refuse the construction of an antenna system.
For further information pertaining to antenna systems, please refer to Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada’s Spectrum Management and Telecommunications website (www.ic.gc.ca/antenna)
Access to the tower and compound will be from Herring Cove Road through the existing entrance to the existing plaza.
An environmental assessment will not be required for this location as the proposed structure is not located within thirty (30) metres of a body of water. Neither the antenna nor its structure and equipment have a footprint of more than twenty-five (25) metres squared.
6 Rogers Communication antennas will be installed at the top of the monopole structure with a microwave backhaul to ensure high-level of network connectivity.
Assessments submitted to Transport Canada and NAV Canada.
Approval from Transport Canada received, tower will have no lighting or markings as per Transport Canada assessment. NAV Canada assessment is being reviewed and will not proceed into the construction without approval.
Telecommunications Service providers must ensure equipment is installed in a safe manner and is in accordance with Safety Code 6 (SC6) for the general population and workers. SC6 is developed by Health Canada and complies with the requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Shared Tower strictly adheres to Health Canada safety standards. More information may be found on Health Canada’s website at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php
Shared Tower attests that the radio antenna system as proposed for this site will be constructed in compliance with the applicable Canadian Standard Association (CSA) standards for telecommunications tower sites and comply with good engineering practices including structural adequacy
