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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLN 06-26 Report to Planning and Development Committee Report Number: PLN 06-26 Date: April 7, 2026 From: Kyle Bentley Director, City Development & CBO Subject: Proposed Telecommunication Tower Shared Tower Inc. 1400 Church Street Installation #75 Recommendation: 1. That Shared Tower Inc. be advised that City Council does not object to the proposed 25- metre-high telecommunication tower located at 1400 Church Street, based on the design and location of the proposal. 1.0 Executive Summary: Shared Tower Inc. is proposing a 25-metre-high monopole telecommunication tower at 1400 Church Street within the Brock Industrial Neighbourhood. The tower is to be located on the southwest quadrant of the site, behind an existing industrial building, within a fenced compound. The tower is designed to accommodate various cellular network providers. Public consultation was completed in accordance with the City’s Telecommunication Tower Protocol (“the Protocol”), with notice provided to all property owners within 150 metres of the proposed tower base, comprising seven industrial property owners. As there are no residential properties within this radius, a Public Open House was not required. The nearest residential uses are located more than a kilometre from the proposed tower. One written submission was received, raising regulatory and environmental concerns. Staff confirmed that the lands are not within or adjacent to a Provincially Significant Wetland, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority raised no concerns with the proposal. All circulated City departments and external agencies have advised that they have no concerns. Staff have reviewed the proposal in accordance with the City’s Telecommunication Tower Protocol. The proposed tower is located behind an existing industrial building, PLN 06-26 April 7, 2026 Page 2 minimizing public visibility from Church Street. The tower is primarily visible only from the rear of the property, where it is surrounded by adjacent industrial uses, which are considered non- sensitive uses. The design allows opportunities for colocation, reducing the need for additional tower sites in Pickering. Staff are satisfied that the proposal meets the location, design, and consultation requirements of the Protocol and recommend Council endorsement, based on the design and other details submitted with the application. 2.0 Relationship to the Pickering Strategic Plan: The recommendations in this report respond to the Pickering Strategic Plan Priority of Advance Innovation & Responsible Planning to Support a Connected, Well-Serviced Community. 3.0 Financial Implications: No direct costs to the City are anticipated due to the proposed development. 4.0 Discussion: The purpose of this report is to obtain Council’s endorsement of an application for a telecommunication tower submitted by Shared Tower Inc. The applicant is proposing a 25- metre-high monopole telecommunication tower and associated equipment cabinets within the rear yard of an existing industrial property at 1400 Church Street in the Brock Industrial Neighbourhood. Telecommunication towers are federally regulated infrastructure and are not subject to municipal zoning approval. However, the City’s Telecommunication Tower Protocol establishes criteria respecting siting, design, land use compatibility, and public consultation. This report outlines how the proposal has been evaluated against those criteria. 5.0 Background: 5.1 Property Description The subject lands are owned by Choice Property Real Estate Investment Trust and are located on the west side of Church Street, south of Bayly Street, in the Brock Industrial Neighbourhood. The lands have an area of approximately 2.82 hectares and contain an industrial building occupied by Aspect Retail Logistics Warehouse. The proposed telecommunication tower would be located behind the building in the southwest quadrant of the site (see Air Photo, Attachment 1). The subject site is designated as “Employment Areas – General Employment” in the City’s Official Plan and currently zoned as “E1” under Consolidated Zoning By-law 8149/24, as PLN 06-26 April 7, 2026 Page 3 amended. Telecommunication towers are federally regulated and therefore exempt from local zoning regulations. 5.2 Applicant’s Proposal Shared Tower Inc. is proposing a 25-metre-high monopole telecommunication tower in the southwest quadrant of the site, adjacent to Copperstone Drive (see Submitted Site Plan, Submitted Site Plan – Detail “A”, and Elevation Drawing, Attachments 2 to 4). The installation is proposed to be located within a 10 metre by 10 metre chain-link fenced compound containing two equipment cabinets to support the associated infrastructure. Vehicular access to the compound would be provided via sharing an existing internal drive aisle from Church Street, along the north and west property boundaries. The applicant has confirmed that a major cellular network provider has arranged to lease space on the tower, but the specific company name cannot be disclosed at this time. The proposed tower is designed to accommodate multiple cellular carriers through co-location, and may also support equipment used by municipal, provincial, or federal agencies for other purposes, such as radio communications or water meter reading systems. 6.0 Comments Received: 6.1 Public Notification has been completed for the proposal Shared Tower Inc. has completed the required public consultation in accordance with the City’s Cell Tower Protocol. As the proposal is located within an urban industrial area, the minimum circulation radius of 150 metres from the tower location was applied. The closest residential uses are more than a kilometre away, and as no residential properties are located within the radius, a Public Open House was not required. Two public notice signs were posted on the property: one centrally located along the Church Street frontage and one along Copperstone Drive near the proposed tower location. A total of seven industrial property owners were notified by mail. The City received one written submission from the owner of an industrial property at 1936 Silicone Drive. The comment expressed concerns whether applicable federal requirements had been satisfied, including giving proper public notice, demonstrating the need for the network expansion, explaining the rationale for the proposed location, and confirming whether the proposal complies with federal regulations. The submission also alleged that the proposal does not conform to municipal and provincial policies due to its proximity to a Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSW) and related conservation authority approval requirements (see Applicant’s Public Consultation Package, Attachment 5). Staff advised the commenter that, based on current provincial and municipal wetland mappings, the subject lands are not located within or adjacent to any wetland features or a PSW. The application was circulated to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, which PLN 06-26 April 7, 2026 Page 4 confirmed that the proposed tower is not located within or adjacent to wetland features, and raised no concerns with the proposal. Staff also clarified that telecommunications towers are regulated by the federal government. While they are not subject to municipal or provincial land use policies, the proposal complies with applicable environmental requirements. The applicant also confirmed that the proposal satisfies the submission requirements under the applicable federal and municipal protocols. 6.2 City Department Comments and External Agencies The application was circulated to all City departments, the Region of Durham, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the Town of Ajax, and Elexicon Energy, all of whom advised that they have no concerns with the proposal. The Town of Ajax further indicated that, while the subject site is located approximately 350 metres from the municipal boundary, they did not require circulation and confirmed that no notification to Ajax landowners was necessary. 7.0 Assessment of the Proposal against the City’s Cell Tower Protocol: The City’s Telecommunication Tower Protocol (the Protocol) was established to provide direction for proponents on the location and design of antenna towers and provides criteria for staff to assess a proposal. City Development staff have reviewed the proposed tower against the location and design criteria of the City's Protocol. 7.1 Co-location and alternative locations have been examined The Protocol requires applicants to demonstrate that they have considered and assessed opportunities to co-locate on existing telecommunication infrastructure before proposing a new stand-alone telecommunication tower. The closest existing telecommunication tower is located approximately 150 metres to the north. However, co-location on that structure is not feasible because there is insufficient available height or compound space to accommodate additional equipment at the elevations required to meet network performance objectives. Additionally, there are towers 1.63 km to the west, 1.72 km and 1.47 km to the northwest, and 1.99 km to the east. The towers are too far from the area where coverage improvements are required (see Applicant’s Site Selection & Justification Report, Attachment 6). The applicant has sufficiently justified the need for a new telecommunication tower and demonstrated that co-location on an existing structure is not feasible. Accordingly, the proposed tower has been designed to accommodate future co-location opportunities. It will be constructed at a height and elevation capable of supporting multiple cellular network providers, representing a more efficient use of the site. Depending on available space and antenna requirements, the tower may also support other equipment, such as radio communications or PLN 06-26 April 7, 2026 Page 5 water meter reading systems, and may be leased to other private or public entities, in accordance with applicable federal regulations. 7.2 The proposal maintains the location criteria of the City’s Protocol The Protocol specifies that when a new tower is determined to be required, there are “preferred” and “discouraged” location criteria that apply. Preferred locations for cell towers include sites that are distanced from residential land uses or other sensitive land uses and have minimal visual impacts to the surrounding area. Sites within industrial, commercial, and non-residential areas, and with obscured public views, are preferred. The City discourages the installation of new antenna systems in residential areas, environmentally sensitive lands, or sites immediately adjacent to heritage properties. The proposed location of the tower meets the City’s preferred location criteria, as it is located within an industrial area, outside of any environmental features, and more than one kilometre from existing residential properties. 7.3 The proposed meets the design criteria of the City’s Protocol The Protocol establishes design criteria for new towers, including screening new towers where possible, enclosing equipment compounds to control access and reduce visual and safety impacts, and design features that allow for future co-location to reduce the need for additional tower sites in Pickering. The proposal includes a 25-metre-high monopole, which is a discreet and slim tower design. The tower is largely screened from views along Church Street by mature trees and vegetation, as well as by the existing 14-metre-tall industrial building located in front of the tower. The tower site is approximately 116 metres from Church Street, further reducing its visibility. The proposed height allows the tower to achieve the elevation necessary for network performance while accommodating future co-location opportunities, reducing the need for additional towers in the area. The associated fenced equipment compound and shared internal access route, described earlier in this report, are consistent with the Protocol’s design standards requiring enclosed equipment areas and controlled access. While the tower may be visible from the rear (west) yard, the surrounding lands to the north, south, and west are occupied by industrial uses, which are among the least sensitive land uses with respect to telecommunication infrastructure. No residential properties are located within at least one kilometre of the site. Given the industrial context, the location behind the existing industrial building, and the measures taken to mitigate visual impacts, staff are satisfied that the proposed location and monopole design are appropriate and compatible with the surrounding area. PLN 06-26 April 7, 2026 Page 6 8.0 Conclusion: Staff recommend that Council does not object to the proposed 25-metre-high telecommunication tower located at 1400 Church Street, based on the design and location of the tower as discussed in this report. Attachments: 1. Air Photo Map 2. Submitted Site Plan 3. Submitted Site Plan – Detail “A” 4. Submitted Elevation Drawing 5. Applicant’s Public Consultation Summary 6. Applicant’s Site Selection & Justification Report Prepared By: Liam Crawford, Planner II Prepared By: Nilesh Surti, MCIP, RPP Division Head, Development Review & Urban Design Approved/Endorsed By: Catherine Rose, MCIP, RPP, Chief Planner Approved/Endorsed By: Kyle Bentley, P. Eng., Director, City Development & CBO LC:ld Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council By: Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer -04;6/- PlCKERlNG City Development Department File: Installation #75 Munici al Address: 1400 Church Street © The Corporation of the City of Pickering Produced (in part) under license from: © King's Printer, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. All rights reserved.;© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, Department of Natural Resources. All rights reserved.;© Teranet Enterprises Inc. and its suppliers. All rights reserved.;© Municipal Property Assessment Corporation and its suppliers. All rights reserved. l:\PLANNING\01-MapFiles\02 -Applications\S\CommunicationTowers\lnstallation #75 -Shared Tower lnc\lnstallation #75.aprx Date: Mar. 03, 2026 SCALE: 1:10,000 THIS ISNOTAPLANOFSURVEY. Attachment 1 to Report PLN 06-26 L:\Planning\01-MapFiles\S\CommunicationTowers March 3, 2026DATE: Applicant: Municipal Address: File No: Submitted Site Plan FULL SCALE COPIES OF THIS PLAN ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT THE CITY OF PICKERING CITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. City Development Department Installation #75 Shared Tower Inc. 1400 Church Street N Attachment 2 to Report PLN 06-26 L:\Planning\01-MapFiles\S\CommunicationTowers March 3, 2026DATE: Applicant: Municipal Address: File No: Submitted Site Plan - Detail “A” FULL SCALE COPIES OF THIS PLAN ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT THE CITY OF PICKERING CITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. City Development Department Installation #75 Shared Tower Inc. 1400 Church Street N Attachment 3 to Report PLN 06-26 Submitted Elevation Drawing City Development Department March 3, 2026FULL SCALE COPIES OF THIS PLAN ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT THE CITY OF PICKERING CITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. Installation #75 Shared Tower Inc.Applicant: Municipal Address: DATE: File No: L:\Planning\01-MapFiles\S\CommunicationTowers 1400 Church Street Attachment 4 to Report PLN 06-26 Attachment 5 to Report PLN 06-26 January 27, 2025 City of Pickering One The Esplanade Pickering, Ontario Re: STC0938 Proposed Telecommunications Tower I am providing a formal request for a letter of concurrence pertaining to the above noted proposed telecommunication tower. Proposal 25 m telecommunications tower is proposed to be located on the property located at: 1400 Church Street South, Pickering, Ontario L1W 4C1 (43.830930, -79.050080) Public Consultation Process In accordance with The City of Pickering’s Telecommunication Protocol, we can confirm that the public information packages were provided by registered mail to recipients within the prescribed notification radius of the proposed tower, and two signs placed on the property with the first at Copperstone Drive and Silicone Drive and the second along Church St as directed by Staff, providing 30 days for comments and/or questions on the proposal. There were no comments/questions received from recipients during the commenting period on the proposal. There was residents that we received questions/comments from, which have been addressed within a subsequent 21-day response period as per ISED’s CPC-2-0-03. The following is a summary of the questions and comments along with the responses provided. Items Questions / Comments Responses Need & Coverage The applicant asserts that “poor cellular service issues greatly affect surrounding areas.” As the adjacent property owner at 1936 Silicone Dr., overseeing a large workforce operating in shifts, I can confirm that cellular service in this area is stable and adequate. Need and Coverage It is the service providers' responsibility to determine the need for improved network services they provide in the area. Reliance on the wireless network goes beyond entertainment and leisure; it varies from person to person. It has grown into a necessity, allowing communities and businesses to connect and thrive as they continue to grow. Additionally, poor capacity solutions pose a serious risk to reliable access to emergency services, including roadside assistance, police, fire, and ambulance. Page | 2 Items Questions / Comments Responses The process of determining whether an area has coverage or capacity issues must remain objective. Service providers do so through internal analysis of data factors such as dropped calls, quality of calls, and subscriber feedback. As a reminder, each service provider must develop their own network. This tower is part of a Nationwide project to enhance capacity solutions for network providers. I can confirm that a National provider has committed to co-locating on the tower to achieve network objectives. Proposed Location In the recent past, due to subscriber feedback and other data factors such as dropped calls or quality of calls, a National service provider has confirmed capacity deficiencies in the surrounding area. A survey of this area identified a proposed site that will achieve the necessary engineering coverage objectives for the network. The siting of tower locations is dependent on a number of factors. Among the factors considered are: ● expected usage patterns of service and proximity to users ● local topography and building types ● interaction with existing and future sites ● line-of-sight requirements for high quality communications ● opportunities to use existing structures ● availability of a willing Landlord ● the industry’s commitment to high service standards and customer satisfaction Public Consultation Landowners have not received required materials The City of Pickering has an established process under which this proposed tower application has been reviewed. Telecommunication antenna/tower systems are exclusively regulated by Federal legislation under the Radiocommunication Act and administered by Innovation, Science and 1300 Cornwall Rd., Unit 101, Oakville ON L6J 7W5 Page | 3 Items Questions / Comments Responses Economic Development (ISED) Canada. Therefore, Provincial legislation such as the Planning Act, including zoning by-laws, does not apply to these antenna/tower systems. The current application has followed all requirements of the City of Pickering’s telecommunications protocol. This included submitting the requested application materials, public information packages mailed to recipients within the notification radius, and 2 signs posted onsite. Please note, this application is still at the public consultation stage - the last day for questions/comments as indicated on the materials is January 15, 2026. As indicated in the notification package, you can find the City’s protocol here: https://www.pickering.ca/business-building-d evelopment/planning-and-development/cell-t ower-protocol/ Environmental It is now confirmed that the proposed installation site directly abuts a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) and additional ELC-classified features and unevaluated wetland areas. The proposed tower is a slim monopole, there are no guyed wires on the tower. As you can see in the attached image, the tower location does not fall within regulated areas of the Conservation Authority. With respect to environmental considerations, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) was circulated on the application. TRCA has advised that they have no concerns with the proposal, as the proposed tower location is situated in the southwest portion of the subject lands and is more than 200 metres from the nearest feature within their regulatory jurisdiction. This separation informed their position that no permits or additional review were required. Health & Safety The applicant’s statement that the antenna “will comply with Safety Code 6” accompanied only by a link to a Health Canada website does not satisfy disclosure expectations. All of Shared Tower’s facilities are fully compliant with safety requirements established by Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada (formally Industry Canada) and Health Canada and, in particular, Health Canada’s Safety Code 6, which sets the limit for safe exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields at home and at 1300 Cornwall Rd., Unit 101, Oakville ON L6J 7W5 Page | 4 Items Questions / Comments Responses work. All wireless telecommunications towers and equipment are required to meet the limits set out in Safety Code 6. This means that for each tower or antenna a carrier installs, they must calculate and prove to ISED that the cumulative power density of it and any adjacent sites is within the allowable Safety Code 6 limits. Strict adherence to Safety Code 6 is a condition of ISED license for all wireless carriers in Canada. If a proposed tower site does not meet the Safety Code 6 limits, it cannot be constructed or placed into services. Shared Tower attests that the proposed tower will comply with the Safety Code 6 limits, including when taking into account the combined effects of other nearby towers and antennas. Health Canada continues to review the latest relevant scientific literature regarding RF energy published around the world and their limits to ensure that it provides continuous protection against any potential adverse health effects. Safety Code 6’s limits consider all levels of technology such as 3rd Generation, 4th Generation/LTE, and 5th Generation, and will continue to do so as new technologies are introduced. All Antenna installations are obligated to always satisfy Health Canada’s strict requirements, regardless of where they are located or the type of technology that is installed. The guidelines outlined for Public Consultation by ISED considers matters regarding modifications to federal protocols and procedures, including Health Canada’s Safety Code 6, not relevant to the tower proposal. Attestations The applicant claims that the tower is “excluded from environmental assessment under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA, 2019).” This statement does not satisfy the requirement for environmental disclosure The antenna system is not incidental to a physical activity or project designated under the IAA, or is located on federal lands, thus it is excluded from environmental assessment under the Impact Assessment Act, formerly known as the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012). Conclusion of Public Consultation Shared Tower Inc. has confirmed with the service providers that the proposed site is well located to provide improved wireless voice and data services in the targeted area. 1300 Cornwall Rd., Unit 101, Oakville ON L6J 7W5 Page | 5 Request for Concurrence At this time, to conclude the municipal and public consultation process, Shared Tower Inc., is respectfully requesting that the City of Pickering issue a letter of concurrence to confirm that the applicable consultation process has been completed. We look forward to providing enhanced wireless services to residents, businesses, and visitors to the area. Please let me know if you require anything further at this time. Yours truly, Cheyenne Zierler Senior Planning Manager Shared Tower Inc. czierler@sharedtower.ca 1300 Cornwall Rd., Unit 101, Oakville ON L6J 7W5 Justification Report For Proposed Telecommunication Antenna Structure File No. STC0938 1400 Church St S Pickering, ON L1W 4C1 September 30, 2025 Prepared for: The City of Pickering One The Esplanade Pickering, ON L1V 6K7 Prepared by:Shared Tower Inc. 1300 Cornwall Rd., Unit 101 Oakville, ON L6J 7W5 Attachment 6 to Report PLN 06-26 Shared Tower Inc. 1300 Cornwall Rd., Unit 101 Oakville, ON L6J 7W5 September 30, 2025 The City of Pickering One The Esplanade Pickering, ON L1V 6K7 Re: Proposed Telecommunication Antenna Structure at 1400 Church St S, Pickering, ON L1W 4C1 Shared Tower Inc. (Shared Tower) is pleased to submit this Telecommunication Tower application for a Letter of Concurrence to the Municipality of Pickering. The proposed tower is a 25 metre streetworks tower structure designed to support multiple co-location opportunities. The tower is proposed to be located at 1400 Church St S, Pickering, ON L1W 4C1, on a E1 - Employment General zoned property. Although the Federal Government, through Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada is responsible for the final regulatory decision to approve the location of the tower, Shared Tower looks forward to working with the Municipality of Pickering to ensure that its community objectives are met. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions or if we can provide any further information. Sincerely, Cheyenne Zierler Senior Planning Manager Shared Tower 1300 Cornwall Rd, Unit 101 Oakville, ON L6J 7W5 czierler@sharedtower.ca 1. Introduction The telecommunications industry plays an essential role, connecting Canadians with wireless and wireline services from coast to coast. These services facilitate the growth of local economies by providing easy access to information and connectivity for residents, businesses, visitors and public bodies. As demand for telecommunications services continues to grow, more network infrastructure is required to keep pace with this demand. Shared Tower is proposing a new tower at 1400 Church St S, Pickering, ON L1W 4C1 (Subject Site). The subject property is a E1 - Employment General zoned site, approximately 52.61 acres. The intent of the proposed tower is to strengthen the telecommunications network in order to better support increased demands for consumer connectivity, the digital economy, and health and safety measures in the community. 2. Coverage Objective Broadly, Shared Tower has identified a need for improved telecommunications network coverage in Pickering. The proposed tower is a 25 metre streetworks tower installation, engineered to accommodate initial and future loading for multiple cellular service providers and additional fixed wireless equipment as required, thereby limiting the need for additional infrastructure to service the area. The location of the tower will ensure separation from the residential properties along with coverage and network capacity for all major wireless network providers. There are currently no suitable telecommunication structures in close proximity that would sustain sufficient connectivity for the Municipality of Pickering. At 25 metres in height, the proposed tower is anticipated to address coverage issues in the area. As of the date of this application, national wireless carriers have expressed interest in locating on the tower. Figure 1: Anticipated Telecommunications Network Coverage 3. Subject Site and Land Use Considerations The Subject Site, in Figure 2, is located at 1400 Church St S, Pickering, ON L1W 4C1 (legal description: PT LTS 15 & 16, RANGE 3, BROKEN FRONT CONCESSION, PTS 1, 5, 8 & 32 40R22677, S/T EASE IN FAVOUR OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PICKERING OVER PT LT 15, RANGE 3, BROKEN FRONT CONCESSION, PTS 5, 8 & 32 40R22677 AS IN DR351022, S/T EASE IN FAVOUR OF THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM, OVER PT LT 15, RANGE 3, BROKEN FRONT CONCESSION, PT 32 40R22677 AS IN DR351127 CITY OF PICKERING). The proposed location comprises approximately 52.61 acres of land zoned for E1 - Employment General Zone uses allowing for a considerable setback from the majority of residents. Figure 2: Key Map Showing Subject Site & Viewpoint 4. Subject Site Selection Justification Existing Telecommunications Towers Prior to proposing a new tower, Shared Tower reviewed the location of existing telecommunications towers for co-location opportunities. As shown in Figure 3, the closest existing tower to the proposed tower is 0.15 km south, our proposed tower is placed at this location in order to ease the burden of the retrospective tower in this commercial area. Additionally, there are towers 1.63 km west, 1.72 km and 1.47 km northwest, and 1.99 km east. The distance from these towers to our proposed towers outlines the need for additional capacity in the area. Figure 3: Subject Site Relative to Nearby Telecommunications Towers Other Co-location Opportunities A review for other suitable existing structures, such as rooftops, utility poles, and transmission towers for co-location opportunities was also undertaken. There were no rooftops or utility poles of sufficient height within the search radius to adequately provide additional network coverage. Distance from Residential and Comprehensive Development Sites The nearest residential use zoned property to the Subject Site is located approximately xx metres to the Southeast at address. Land Use & Public Realm Considerations The Subject Site is located in a commercial setting away from the majority of residential development and currently used for E1 - Employment General zoning purposes. Additionally, the Subject Site is not a location of topographic prominence that would affect public views, nor is it located in the line of sight of any views or vistas of significant natural or human-made features. The proposal is not anticipated to negatively affect any sensitive land uses, such as heritage sites, parks, areas of significant vegetation, shorelines, or water bodies. Overall, the addition of the proposed tower would result in little to no impact on the area’s current land uses nor would it detract from the overall public realm. 5. Detailed Rationale The purpose for this proposal is to improve on coverage that already exists in the area by offloading surrounding towers to increase the strength, quality and capacity of the network by introducing 5G to the area. Signals degrade the further away a user is from the tower. This is a dense urban area with lots of homes, trees, buildings and people which puts a strain on the network. There is some level of coverage from the other towers in the area, however they broadcast on a range of frequencies that all have different coverage extents. The communications industry reports that our global/national wireless data consumption continues to grow year after year. Dense areas result in more powerful phones with access to more frequency bands. This heavily affects the network in the area as there are more users streaming videos, attending virtual meetings, and multi-app usage. The carriers add power to optimize their towers as much as they can to keep up with a specific level of service that is acceptable. Once that capacity is reached, other solutions need to be explored; such as this proposed site which offers a minimal visually impacting tower design. This site will aid in shouldering the heavy traffic load in this dense employment area so that existing towers do not fail and get overburdened. Our proposed site has been carefully chosen to improve wireless coverage in this area of Pickering. There is existing coverage in the area from the carriers, but most of that today is based on 3rd and 4th generation wireless technologies (3G/4G) which brought us HSPA+ and LTE. Carriers have been deploying 5th generation wireless (5G) nationally and that requires more infrastructure like towers so that municipalities and residents can take advantage of it. The difference now is that there are more options and types of towers to choose from to better suit the needs of the community. The wireless frequencies of 5G will greatly improve data speeds and reduce connection latency which will facilitate new innovations and services. But those special frequencies do not travel long distances so it is essential to get new infrastructure as close to where people live, work, and play. But do it in a manner that respects the environment, and adheres to strict Health Canada safety guidelines. This new tower is not about addressing a 'gap' or void of coverage overall, but to densify existing networks and add new wireless technology. Businesses and residents will expect to have access to this. 6. Proposed Telecommunication Antenna Structure Shared Tower is proposing to construct a 25 metre streetworks tower on the Subject Site. Preferred Tower Type The streetworks tower design has been selected as the most efficient tower type to support equipment for multiple future co-location services and the elevation required to meet the aforementioned application objective. This tower type is consistent with the typical structures installed in commercial areas and ensures minimal visual impact. Preferred Tower Height The proposed streetworks tower has been designed at a height of 25 metres. This height is required to provide optimal coverage to the area for voice and data use. More importantly, this height will also allow other carriers to co- locate on the proposed tower in the future, which will limit the overall number of tower structures required in Pickering and surrounding areas. Control of Public Access The proposed tower will include a locked and electronically monitored mechanical equipment shelter. Bollards will be installed around the base of the tower and the equipment shelter will include one locked access point. Design Considerations & Screening The tower structure is proposed to be located on the south-western area of the Subject Site. Trees or other vegetation may be required to be removed or disturbed during the installation or operation of the proposed tower. 7. Federal Policy The Federal Government, through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is responsible for the final regulatory decision to approve the location of the tower. ISED has adopted a policy (CPC-2-0-03 – Radiocommunication and Broadcasting Antenna Systems) which applies to anyone who is planning to install or modify a tower. This policy has been reviewed to ensure Shared Tower’s proposed tower is in compliance. A review of the required public consultation process along with several required declarations follow. CPC-2-0-03 – Radiocommunication and Broadcasting Antenna Systems (2022) Public Consultation The City of Pickering has an established process under which this proposed tower application will proceed. The City of Pickering’s public consultation process was reviewed to ensure the requirements will be met by Shared Tower. Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 Compliance Shared Tower attests that the proposed tower described in this Letter of Rationale will at all times comply with Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 limits, as may be amended from time to time, for the protection of the general public, including any combined effects of carrier co-locations and nearby installations. Safety Code 6 takes into account the total exposure from all sources of radiofrequency electric and magnetic fields in the range of 3kHz to 300 GHz. This includes those that may be used in 5th Generation technology. Impact Assessment Act (IAA 2019) Shared Tower attests that the proposed tower described in this Letter of Rationale is excluded from environmental assessment under the Impact Assessment Act, formerly known as the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012). Aeronautical Safety Shared Tower attests that the proposed tower described in this Letter of Rationale will comply with Transport Canada/NAV Canada aeronautical safety requirements. When the aforementioned parties have determined if any aeronautical safety features are required for the proposed tower, this information will be provided to the Municipality of Pickering. Engineering Practices Shared Tower Inc. 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. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Spectrum Management Please be advised that the approval of this site and its design is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (formerly Industry Canada). For more information on ISED’s public consultation guidelines, including CPC-2-0-03, please visit this website, or contact the local ISED office at: Toronto District Office 175A Admiral Blvd, Mississauga ON L5T 2T3 Telephone: 1-855-465-6307 Fax: 416-954-3553 Email: spectrumtoronto-spectretoronto@ised-isde.gc.ca General information relating to antenna systems is available on ISED’s Spectrum Management and Telecommunication website. 8. Conclusion Shared Tower has proposed a new tower in Pickering to strengthen the local telecommunications network. Prior to submitting this request, a thorough search for existing co-location opportunities was conducted, however, no feasible options were available. Shared Tower believes this proposal: ● Works toward bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide by filling an identified network need in Pickering; ● Provides co-location opportunities that will reduce the overall number of towers required in the community; ● Is designed to be as visually unobtrusive as possible and blend in on the Subject Site; ● Has no impact on the adjacent land uses or public realm; ● Is aligned with and supports several layers of municipal and federal policy; and, ● Justifies the issuance of a Statement of Concurrence by the Municipality of Pickering. Although ISED is responsible for the final regulatory decision to approve the proposed tower, Shared Tower is committed to effective and meaningful municipal and community consultation. We look forward to working with the Municipality of Pickering to continue to build an efficient telecommunications network for the community while ensuring its objectives are met. Appendix A: Site Renderings Before After Shared Tower Inc. 1300 Cornwall Rd., Unit 101 Oakville, ON L6J 7W5 info@sharedtower.ca | (647) 362-0111