Grey area for cellphone towers

Not much residents can do about cellphone masts erected on private property.

Residents have been up in arms about a massive cellphone mast tower that recently went up along Korea Road in Westdene. In addition to the tower going up without their knowledge nor consent, they are unhappy with the size of it and the potential impact it could have on their health and safety.

Ward 69 councillor Genevieve Sherman has been working with residents to address the issue but unfortunately, due to it being built within a private residential premises, there’s not much that can be done.

She explained, “I have been involved with residents since day one and advised them to make a petition opposing the tower. While that was happening I contacted officials from the Development Planning Department of the City and was told that everything about its construction has been legitimate.” She added that because it was on a private property there was not a direct need for consent from neighbouring residents which has disappointed her.

Sherman said that they recently managed to stop the construction of another tower in Westdene and were successful as it was being built on City land. “The regulations do allow residents to take action if it is on public land such as parks but they are blurry when it comes to private as homeowners have the final say.”

The Northcliff Melville Times has seen documents that show that the project was approved in November 2020 but was completed within a matter of weeks in September 2021. Sherman added that she wasn’t even consulted about the tower along Korea Road but has been engaging with the relative departments at the City to find a way forward. “There isn’t much we can do about it because it has been approved and they followed the necessary protocols.”

This is a developing story and an update will be made as soon as possible.