Dear Mo Co Friends and Neighbors,
This is it! The Mo Co Council is set to hold a work session on ZTA 19-07 that
- Allows short “small” cell towers—also called wireless transmission facilities—to be placed as close as 30 feet—or less—from our homes.
- Our street lights can be replaced with these cell towers.
- Our utility poles can be replaced with these cell towers.
- No required notice or public hearing so long as they are 30 feet from homes!
Opposed to the removal of our right to participate in the decision making process?
We need you to take action. Join us! Sign our petition to County leaders opposing the ZTA.
History of the bill
In January of this year Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer re-introduced Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 19-07 that will allow small cell towers—also called wireless transmission facilities—to be placed as close as 30 feet—or less—from our homes. The PHED (Planning, Housing and Economic Development) Committee made additional changes that allowed existing street lights and utility poles to be replaced by stronger, wider poles to hold the cell antennas and heavy equipment. This bill has been rejected 5 times over the last 5 years but Councilmember Riemer keeps bringing it back.
We strongly oppose this bill and hope you will also.
Montgomery County residents have continuously and strongly opposed the previous as well as the current proposed ZTA. Here are video-recordings from the two most recent public hearings:
- Watch video testimony from the ZTA 19-07 public hearing, 11/19/19
- Watch video testimony from the ZTA 18-11 public hearing, 9/25/2018
Watch these informative presentations on the issues surrounding the ZTA:
- Rick Meyer’s Presentation: Montgomery County’s Broken Process for Review and Oversight of Cell Towers and What You Need to Know About ZTA 19-07
- Theodora Scarato’s Presentation: What You Need to Know About Montgomery County, 5G and the New Proposed Zoning ZTA 19-07
Join our Petition to STOP the Cell Tower ZTA 19-07. It just takes a minute!
You may also contact the Mo Co Council members directly by phone or individual emails.
Use your address to find your district here.
- Use your address to find your district here.
- Marc Elrich, County Executive ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov
- At-Large: Hans Riemer, Councilmember.Riemer@montgomerycountymd.gov 240-777- 7964 (Hans Riemer is the sponsor of ZTA 19-07).
- At-Large: Will Jawando, Councilmember.Jawando@montgomerycountymd.gov 240-777- 7811
- District 1: Andrew Friedson, Councilmember.Friedson@montgomerycountymd.gov 240- 777-7828 (Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, and Poolesville)
- District 2: Craig Rice, Councilmember.Rice@montgomerycountymd.gov 240-777-7955 (Clarksburg, Damascus, and Germantown)
- District 3: Sidney Katz, Councilmember.Katz@montgomerycountymd.gov 240-777- 7906 (Gaithersburg and Rockville)
- District 4: Nancy Navarro, Councilmember.Navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov 240- 777-7968 (Colesville, Laytonsville, Olney, and Wheaton)
- District 5: Tom Hucker, Councilmember.Hucker@montgomerycountymd.gov 240-777- 7960 (Burtonsville, Silver Spring, and Takoma Park)
- At-Large: Evan Glass, Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov 240-777- 7966
- At-Large: Gabe Albornoz, Councilmember.Albornoz@montgomerycountymd.gov 240- 777-7959
However you contact the Council, please make sure you do it TODAY!
Contact us to be added to our e-News & Action Alerts. We will post many updates, including on upcoming public hearings, in these alerts.
For those who have asked how to help, please contact us if you are interested in receiving flyers and yard signs for your neighborhood. We also have PDF flyers and handouts available to download.
Share this email with with your Mo Co friends and neighbors.
Thank you,
Team Tech Wise Mo Co MD
Montgomery County Coalition to Protect Neighborhoods