The demand for data and better service is booming in Montgomery County, MD, and with that the county council has introduced Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 16-03, which would allow towers to be installed without a public hearing.
While telecommunications companies spoke highly of the possible expedited process, residents in Rockville, MD, voiced their disapproval at the council meeting where the bill was introduced. The Sentinel reported that currently, towers can be placed on existing telephone poles or on a pole “no larger than 30 feet.” Even though they must be at least 300 feet from residences, homeowners voiced not being able to speak up about possible locations as a reason for their opposition.
Additionally, while the county’s zoning ordinance requires conditional use approvals from the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings for every pole, residents would not be able to appeal under the new law.
The Sentinal reported that the bill’s lead author, Council President Nancy Floreen, said “her office received 170 applications for the new antennas and the bill expedites the process.” LaTara Harris, regional director of external and legislative affairs for AT&T, told The Sentinal, “From January 2007, to December 2015, wireless data use increased 150,000 percent on AT&T’s network.”
Edward Donohue, a lawyer representing Crown Castle, also agreed with the bill. He told The Sentinel, “I don’t even know what a Pokémon Go is, but I know it’s placing tremendous demands on the wireless networks.”
A committee work session for ZTA 16-05 is scheduled for September. 12.
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