At the special council meeting on January 28, Grenville-sur-la-Rouge council provided a favourable response to Vidéotron’s request for the installation of a new radio communication broadcasting antenna system in the municipality.
Communications towers are federal responsibility and are not subjected to the municipal planning process. However, the federal government does give municipalities the opportunity to express support or opposition to tower installations.
Vidéotron explained in a letter to council that the planned tower would “be installed on the site of an existing tower that will be dismantled following the construction of the new tower. The existing access road will be used, and no deforestation is required.”
The tower will be located approximately one kilometre from the intersection of chemin de Rawcliffe and chemin Édina.
They continued by stating “The final siting decision is always made with a view to covering as many customers as possible with the fewest possible new structures. Vidéotron is making considerable efforts to ensure that its new facilities will blend harmoniously into the local environment.
According to a report filed to council, the proposed site constitutes the site with the least impact on the citizens of Lac Craig. The technical requirements and abilities of the tower also meet the government’s requirements regarding cellular coverage.
Vidéotron will be required to obtain the required permits from the municipality prior to installation.
Directeur général François Rioux explained that “no cost is or will be assumed by the municipality for the new radiocommunication antenna. The costs are assumed by the gouvernement du Québec.”
Council voted in support of the tower. Councillors Isabelle Brisson, Natalia Czarnecka, and Manon Jutras were absent from the meeting.
