Alert! A newly proposed zoning amendment (ZTA 19-07) for Montgomery County will allow companies to place thousands of mini cell towers called small cells in the front yard of every home in the county- on street lights and power poles. The ZTA will allow cell towers 30 feet from homes.
The Montgomery County Council will soon vote on a radical zoning change: Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 19-07 will allow so-called “small" cell towers on utility poles, streetlights, and lamp posts just 30 feet from residents’ homes. Several "small" cell towers would be possible per block in every neighborhood -- including YOURS!
No direct notice to any resident -- Even if the cell tower would be smack in front of your home.
No public hearings either.
Even worse: With a special permit, cell towers could be far closer. No minimum setback at all!
We must act quickly, before the full Council votes -- They could vote at any time!
Register for An Expert Webinar "Montgomery County 5G Small Cell Information Session"
What are the Health and Environmental Effects of 5G Deployment in Montgomery County Maryland and How Will the Montgomery County County Council Proposed Cell Tower Zoning Affect Our Neighborhoods?
Speaker: Theodora Scarato, Director of the Environmental Health Trust
What You Need to Know About Montgomery County, 5G and the New Zoning ZTA 19-07
The Montgomery County Council has proposed a new zoning ordinance named ZTA 19-07 which allows 4G and 5G so called "small" cell towers to be deployed just 30 feet from your home. The street lights and utility poles in front of your home will be able to be replaced with 5G cell towers without any notice sent to you,nor public hearing required so long as the pole is at least 30 feet from your home.
A Montgomery County Maryland group MoCoSafeG has invited Theodora Scarato to speak about the health and environmental issues related to 5G and 4G antenna densification.
Research shows that unfettered 5G deployment would greatly increase the greenhouse gas emissions which are driving the climate crisis. Solutions exist to provide internet connections without forcing these cell towers into neighborhoods. Fiber networks are ten times more energy efficient, have no health risks, are cheaper and offer greater privacy protection.
Published research reviews warn that cell tower radiation can harm bees,birds, trees, plants and wildlife. There are further substantial impacts to the tree canopy and wildlife from the digging and tree trimming necessary to deploy all of these antennas.
The cellular antennas on these poles will transmit radio frequency microwave (RF/MW) radiation 24/7 which has never been safety tested on people for long term exposure. Many doctors and scientists recommend a halt to 5G until safety research is performed due to the substantial body of research that already exists indicating current 3G and 4G technology is harmful at legal levels. This issue is the center of a lawsuit in federal court launched by Environmental Health Trust- now awaiting a court verdict.
Learn about the latest proposed cell tower zoning for Montgomery County and why doctors recommend caution. Get your questions answered in this informative session on March 30th, Monday at 7:00pm with expert Theodora Scarato MSW, Executive Director of the scientific think tank Environmental Health Trust.
The issue of 5G and cell towers has been before the council for several years now and every year residents call to halt cell towers in residential neighborhoods. The issue has been the subject of several news stories and strong community opposition.
About Theodora Scarato MSW Executive Director Environmental Health Trust
Theodora Scarato MSW is Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust (EHT), a scientific think tank that publishes research and educates policymakers on environmental health issues. EHT scientists are among the leading independent voices calling for reducing wireless worldwide and launched a historic lawsuit against the FCC regarding their decades old wireless radiation exposure limits.
Scarato directs EHT educational programs, publishes research and coordinates scientific conferences and programs in the US and internationally alongside EHT’s Senior Science Advisors. Scarato has co-authored several articles on electromagnetic field policy and is a lead policy analyst and researcher for the EHT database on international actions– the most comprehensive collection of information on policy actions on cell phones and wireless.
Scarato helped coordinate the 2019 US medical conference designed exclusively to train medical professionals on electromagnetic radiation and also presented on worldwide EMF policy at the 2021 EMF Medical Conference. She is on the board of PhoneGate Alert.
A "small" cell is anything but small as each one can be as tall as 50 feet and erected right in front of your home. Each small cell has a thick pole with transmitting antennas on top. Plus they will have an equipment cabinet which could be very large.
Your Urgent Response Requested: Please see below action alert and attached PDF to print and share. Our Countywide Petition Opposing ZTA 19-07 is in the works and will be posted at link provided. Please tell people that a petition will be ready within the next day or so.
Montgomery County Council will vote soon on ZTA 19-07, which allows cell towers 30 feet- from our homes.
This cell tower zoning bill ZTA 19-07, just passed the Montgomery County Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee.
4G/5G cell antennas would be installed on utility poles, street lights, and light poles in parking lots. The antennas require large equipment boxes that can block drivers’ and pedestrians’ views-a special concern with children. The current proposal would allow cell towers just 150 feet apart, which could be every 2 to 3 homes.
Below are top issues raised around the U.S. and by your Montgomery County neighbors about wireless installations—especially 5G—placed so close to homes:
* Health and safety hazards documented by independent researchers. * Premature to lock in new County rules under FCC’s outdated, 25-year-old Radiation Exposure Limits. * Landmark lawsuits against FCC likely to push FCC to finally align exposure limits with current independent science. * Environmental & economic injustice. * Does not solve the digital divide - only wired fiber can do that. * Soaring energy consumption, making climate change worse. * Harm to trees and wildlife. * Concerns about compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA). * Data security risks. * Privacy breaches. * Sinking property values. * Lack of transparency. * Lack of accountability. * Surveillance/commodification of our private activities, without our knowledge or consent. * Bias towards industry—and its 5G propaganda—is short-circuiting elected officials’ duty to prioritize public interests.
Tell the County Council to OPPOSE ZTA 19-07
Get sample opposition letters, contact info for the councilmembers and petition link (coming soon) at:
The Montgomery County Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee just voted for a new ZTA 19-07 that would allow a utility pole or street light at least 30 feet from your house to be swapped out with a new pole that has antennas.
30 FEET SETBACK
Cell antennas can now be placed 30 feet from our homes.
ZERO PUBLIC COMMENT & HEARINGS:
Antennas proposed for street lights or utility poles 30 feet or more from homes would be effectively automatically approved. There will be no notice nor hearings.
WIDER POLES
New wider poles will be replacing the street lights and utility poles in order to hold the heavy equipment
TALLER STREET LIGHTS
Our street lights will go up several feet higher to be capped with cellular antennas.
WHAT CAN YOU DO
Next step is this ZTA goes to the full council for a vote. Our elected officials need to hear from you by email, a real phone call and better yet- ask for a meeting.
