👎 They say No

Marc Elrich proposes that we convene a working group comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including industry to discuss cell tower placement in the rights-of-way. Marc Elrich comments on ZTA 19-07

The City of Takoma Park wants every resident of Montgomery County to have equitable access to affordable broadband internet. However, everyone should have a voice in the planning process. This ZTA, as currently drafted, would cut municipalities and residents out of the planning and siting process for many new “small” cell towers and strip us of our voices. City of Takoma Park

Our Town ( Garrett Park ) is an arboretum and listed on the National Register of historic places. Established in 1898, the layout of our Town Streets and green space was designed to reflect a rural and park-like setting, which we very much cherish. To preserve this unique Character and the quality of life and trees for current and future residents we have implemented, in our laws and zoning regulations, a series of environmental, aesthetic and historic requirements. Our Town Charter and Code also allow for the Town to maintain its roads, sidewalks and public right of way. With the proposed ZTA 19-07, all this hard work can be overturned by the decisions of a single person, the "Hearing Examiner."
Garrett Park Testimony for Hearing on ZTA 19-07 Telecommunications Towers – Limited Use

350 Montgomery County has recently advocated for the County to undergo a climate impact assessment of every County legislative or regulatory action. Since we are in a climate emergency, as declared by the County’s 2017 Resolution, a carbon audit would seem to be a minimal condition on such a major expansion. Therefore, due to the lack of consideration of the carbon consequences of ZTA 19-07, we stand in opposition to its passage.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CzYgqfQDg9KkumIrf8NTyy02WO_-ayEb/view350moco.org says no?usp=sharing

We are writing today to oppose the passage of Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 19-07 (Telecommunications Towers – Limited Use). West Montgomery County Citizens Association believes every Montgomery County resident should have equitable access to affordable broadband. At the same time, every resident deserves to have a voice in the planning process. ZTA 19-07 would deny municipalities and residents that voice in the planning and siting process for many new “small” cell towers. West Montgomery County Citizens