Peters Township Wants To Limit Wireless Towers

Peters Township Council held a special hearing regarding changes to its ordinance regulating wireless technology tower locations in the township. Currently, towers are only allowed in industrial zones and on existing structures that allow for combined location of utilities. Changes to the ordinance are in anticipation of upcoming 5G wireless technology. That technology will require hundreds of wireless towers to be deployed throughout the township. The towers by design broadcast communications signals several hundred feet at a time as opposed to several miles similar to the towers currently in use. Because 5G towers can be combined with existing applications, neighborhoods that employ telephone poles will have less of a problem acquiring 5G technology than those neighborhoods with underground utilities. The amended ordinance will still prohibit 5G towers from being built in underground utility neighborhoods. According to Township Manager Paul Lauer, “this will create a delicate balancing act for residents.” They will need to decide if having high speed broadband service is more important than having a wireless tower in their yard. The ordinance also allows the township control over esthetic nature of the structures. Council will enact the ordinance in its next meeting.