Archived Community Submission 2021
This document was originally published in 2021 during public discussions regarding small cells, zoning amendment, problems with Montgomery County processes for cell tower siting.
It is preserved here as part of the public record documenting resident engagement and expert commentary during that period.
Watch Now! Montgomery County’s Broken Process for Review and Oversight of Cell Towers and What You Need to Know About ZTA 19-07 with Rick Meyer of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Control of Cell Towers (MC4T.org). Webinar was held and recorded Thursday, May 6, 2021.
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/4G 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.
Rick Meyer, President, Montgomery County Coalition for the Control of Cell Towers
Montgomery County has a history of lax reviews. Rick Meyer of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Control of Cell Towers (MC4T) has worked for years with a team of residents evaluating the County’s oversight process for cell tower permitting. They found dozens of applications with errors and numerous examples of towers built too tall, too close to homes, with too many antennas in violation of their permit. Some “small” cells were even built at the wrong address! Watch Rick Meyer present to the council in this video.
More Info
Want to stop cell towers from coming to your front door? Go to the letter writing campaign/petition to stop the ZTA.
Last month, Theodora Scarato presented an overview of the new ZTA along with clips from the Council meetings. Watch Scarato’s webinar video replay HERE.
We hope you will join us on Thursday May 6 at 7:30 PM. Be sure to REGISTER.