Montgomery County Council for Withdraws Flawed 5G Small Cell Tower Bill

Press release by the Montgomery County Coalition for the Control of Cell Towers...

MC4T Commends Council for Withdrawing Flawed 5G Small Cell Tower Bill 

                                                                                                        October 30, 2018

MC4T  Commends Montgomery County Council for Withdrawing Flawed Small Cell Tower Bill

Bill Did Not Include Safety Standards, Critical Enforcement Protections

Rockville, MD…..  Montgomery County Coalition for the Control of Cell Towers today commended the Montgomery County Council for withdrawing the “small cell tower bill” which would have allowed cell towers to placed 30 feet from residents’ homes. The bill, Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 18-11,  had been scheduled for a vote today.   “We are grateful for the CouncilMembers who lead the charge to protect residents interests” said Rick Meyer, the President of MC4T.  “The cell towers could have been placed 30 feet from our homes. These would be tall towers with multiple antennas.  There are many protections that were just not in the bill.  Other jurisdictions have those protections. We don’t.”  

The Council passed a law last Spring which allowed  the towers throughout industrial, commercial, and mixed use areas.  ZTA 18-11 was much more contentious because the cell towers could be placed so close to people’s homes.   

“In particular we would like to thank CouncilMember Hucker whose leadership on this bill put the community’s interests first.” Said Meyer. “We’d like to thank Council Members Navarro, Katz, Elrich, Berliner and Leventhal as well for their support.”

Montgomery County for the Control of Cell Towers supports meaningful community protections such as adequate setbacks from residential dwellings, concealment of equipment, post-installation inspection, adequate safety standards, community notice and opportunity to appear at a hearing prior to installation.

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According Montgomery County Council Present Riemer's Office as of citizen conversation on October 30, 2018 in am. 

"Everything has been removed from the agenda. Its possible that it could always come back. It is possible that 5 Council members could bring it up and vote on it as with any other piece of legislation. But-- There is no planned vote, no planned discussion and no planned closed session with lawyer to discuss the ZTA on wireless facilities"

-stated staff from Council Hans Riemer's office at 10:15 am this am.

"Everything related to ZTA 18-11 has been removed from today’s agenda. Currently, there is no planned discussion, vote, or closed worksession to discuss ZTA 18-11.”

-stated staff from Council Hans Riemer's office at 11:15 am this am.

Industry has greatly exaggerated the FCC Small Cell Order and their tall tales backfired.  

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From: "Leventhal's Office, Councilmember" <Councilmember.Leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov>
Date: October 30, 2018 at 11:12:20 AM EDT
To:citizen
Subject: RE: ZTA 18-11 vote tomorrow - URGENT

Dear xxx

Thank you for your message regarding ZTA 18-11. As you know, this ZTA is quite controversial and does not have the support of a majority of councilmembers; therefore, it is being pulled from the calendar and will not be voted on by this council.

It remains to be seen whether or when the issue of cell towers in residential neighborhoods will come up again in the future. Knowing your views was helpful to me.

Thank you again for writing.

Best regards,

George Leventhal, Ph.D.

Montgomery County Councilmember