For Immediate Release: Tuesday 30 October
“I am very disappointed that the County Council has withdrawn the proposed Small Cell Tower bill from consideration.
“I applaud Council President Hans Riemer for his leadership to approve legislation to protect County residents from State and federal efforts to preempt our ability to regulate the placement of small cell towers in our neighborhoods. I appreciate all the feedback and concerns we have heard from County residents.
“This bill, ZTA 18-11, was pulled because of a series of unacceptable amendments which would have made the measure unworkable and potentially undermined our legal standing on litigation that is certain to follow.
“I have particular concerns regarding several questionable amendments proposed by Councilmember Tom Hucker that would make the bill too costly, too time-consuming and too confusing – basically unworkable. It would further erode confidence in the ability of our local ordinance designed to preclude preemption.
“We have failed to adequately protect our communities and neighborhoods. We now run a much greater risk of the State – and federal government – preempting any local say on the terms and conditions of small cell tower placement in our neighborhoods. There was a bill in Annapolis last year – highly likely to reappear in the coming session -- that would commandeer our rights-of-way for almost no payment and throw the financial burden on our taxpayers. Even worse, under this State bill we will not have a say over setbacks or aesthetics. The industry will be allowed to deploy on any pole in the County's right-of-way no matter how close it is to someone's home.”
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