Poor reception

DALTON GARDENS — A proposal to allow small cell antennas in Dalton Gardens was met with opposition at the town’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting this week.

The commission decided to delay a decision, giving it time to collect more information and schedule another hearing later.

Rhonda Sand, a Coeur d’Alene resident, was one of about 15 who spoke against the plan, citing health concerns from radiation.

She said the commission was relinquishing its role to look after the residents' best interests.

“They’re not protecting our health to an industry that is profiting,” she said.

Sand said Dalton Gardens does not permit cell towers within residential areas.

Rand Wichman, city planner, said the proposal isn’t asking for tall cell towers that folks see around cities, such at the one on Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive or two more on Ramsey Road.

He said the meeting was to amend the code to allow for small cell antenna systems. The code reads in part that allowed uses will be: “In the Residential District, no building or land located therein shall be used, nor any structure hereafter erected or altered, except for the following purposes: Distributed antenna systems and small cell wireless communication facilities.”

These are the types of antennas you might see mounted on shorter poles or street lights, Wichman said.

“It’s not proposed to make any change in regards to large cell towers,” he said.

The proposal describes a distributed antenna system as "a form of wireless communication facility consisting of a network of transceiver equipment at a central hub site to support multiple antenna locations throughout the desired coverage area."

It defines a microcell as "An antenna or antennas mounted on a tower, ground-based mast, rooftops and other towers or structures, at a height that provides a clear view over the surrounding buildings and terrain."

And it defines a small cell as "A form of wireless communication facility consisting of compact wireless equipment that contain their own transceiver equipment and function like cells in a wireless network but provide a smaller coverage area than traditional macrocells. Small cells shall not exceed 50 feet in height and shall have antennas that are less than 3 cubic feet in size."

Wichman said the Federal Communications Commission came out with a series of orders calling for entities like cities to accommodate use of the small antennas.

“We have no ability to regulate them,” he said. “But that doesn’t make them any less controversial.”

He said there seems to be a misunderstanding that is a source of frustration. Many believe the proposal calls for allowing large cell towers, and fear the smaller antennas will expose people to radiation.

He said the P&Z agreed to revise the proposal to make things clearer and plug some holes.

“There are additional things we can do within our draft,” he said.

But he added that P&Z doesn’t have authority to evaluate the risk or safety of the small antennas, which can't be any closer than 500 feet to each other. It is preempted, he said, from “considering the health effects of these things.”

Sand said the commission needs to incorporate safety guidelines. She said cell towers emit radiation and are a danger to the health of people, animals and the environment.

There are five cell towers in the Coeur d’Alene area where health violations have been alleged, Sand said.

She also doesn’t see why the antennas are even needed, as Dalton Gardens seems to have plenty of cellphone coverage.

“There’s nowhere you can go without five bars,” she said. “Right now, we’re over served.”

Sand was glad the commission did not approve the proposal.

“We are very grateful,” she said.