More than 200 strata owners and residents have presented a petition to Delta council stating their objections to a proposed radio antenna on the Delta Rise building in North Delta.
The petition and corresponding letter are in opposition to a development permit application that, according to Delta staff, is at a preliminary stage.
John Smith, who is an owner of one of the units in the 80th Avenue high-rise, wrote the letter and submitted the petition.
He said the proposed antenna is unprecedented at a height of 60 feet and would be an ugly monstrosity on the building, not to mention detract from the landscape.
Smith also said nowhere in the developer’s disclosure statement does it state the size of antenna that may be placed on the building.
“If I had known that the developer was going to put this on the top of our building, I for one would not have purchased my condo,” wrote Smith. “Our strata is in litigation with the developer over this issue. Under the Strata Act, the developer must work in the best interests of the strata owners. This is not the case here.”
Smith also cites health concerns due to radio waves that would be emitted from the antenna, a potential loss of property values and noise issues as other areas of concern.
“Under our telecommunications policy the proponent must undertake their own public consultation on any new application, so the proponent has been instructed to send out more detailed information as well as a public information meeting and then report back to Delta,” said director of planning Marcy Sangret. “As of last week, the applicant has not started on that consultation.”
Coun. Lois Jackson, acting mayor in George Harvie’s absence, asked staff whether council has the ability to halt the application at this stage.
“This was not part of the original building design, so a request was made to amend the development permit and that is up to council whether they amend the permit,” said Sangret. “The second part of the application is the telecommunications policy which was adopted by council, but is not a bylaw, and it speaks to ensure there is consultation by the proponent. On the question of whether council has to move this application forward, I would have to report back on that.”
