They don’t exactly stick out if you’re not looking for them, but Burnaby could soon be getting more cell antennas – of the small variety.
Last month, city council approved zoning amendments that would allow small cell antenna installations on city street light standards and traffic light poles.
Prior to the changes, antennas were only allowed in the “P2 zoning” or the administration and assembly districts, but were mostly large free-standing antennas.
Coun. Sav Dhaliwal, who voted in favour of the change at a public hearing on the issue, explained the small antennas are generally only about one to two feet long.
“I like the idea of not having a whole lot of huge, big, unsightly antennas,” he told the NOW. “I thought this was quite helpful to both the service provider and the consumer.”
Dhaliwal noted the changes come as Telus was looking to install the small antennas to improve reception and Wi-Fi for customers in Burnaby, adding there will be conditions put on any applications.
“There will probably be some kind of contract with the city and public in the usage of that infrastructure,” he said, also noting any company in the future won’t have to go through a public hearing as was the process in the past.
Dhaliwal said he also expects the city to keep the number of the small antennas to “a reasonable number.”
At this point, he’s not sure how many antennas the company intends to put up around the city.
The city also made amendments to ensure all antenna proposals, other than the small ones permitted under the zoning, like the larger freestanding or monopole antennas, require approval through the rezoning process, and only be permitted if they are included as part of a comprehensive development.
