Telecom provider Eastlink went two for three with applications before St. John’s City Council yesterday.
All three involve adding antennas to telecommunications towers, as well as the roof of the former Bishops College—now Bishops Gardens senior living on Pennywell Road.
Installation there, and at a tower on Kenmount Road, sailed through the approval process, but a third—at the end of Autumn Drive in Airport Heights — was deferred.
The reason? Two residents wanted more safety information regarding the antennas and their potential effects.
There have long been concerns over the health risks of living near such towers, but the jury is still largely out on the issue.
File Photo
Meanwhile, the city continues to deal with such applications that fall under federal jurisdiction, much to the chagrin of Councillor Jamie Korab.
“Even if we don’t agree with it, they can still go ahead, so to me I’m not sure why we’re doing it,” he said. “In terms of supporting it, it could just be referred back to them, I don’t know. I still struggle with this and don’t even think we should be doing it personally.”
Deputy City Manager Jason Sinyard confirmed the same.
“The city has no real authority or jurisdiction in the approval of these,” he said. “What the siting protocol ensures is that there is public notification, but the federal government has their own notification process as well.”
Council deferred the Autumn Drive application until the requested safety report has been prepared, which is expected next week.
