View - The Municipality of Lambton Shores

THE MUNCIPALITY OF LAMBTON SHORES
PL Report No. 11-2013 Wednesday, February 20, 2013
TO:
FROM:
RE:
Mayor Weber and Members of Council
Patti Richardson, Senior Planner
Beige Zone (Electromagnetic Frequency Reduced Area)
RECOMMENDATION:
For Council information and direction.
______________________________________________________________________
REPORT
Council passed the following resolution at their January 14, 2013 meeting:
That staff prepare a report on the possible installation of hard-wired phones
in Port Franks’ waterfront area for the increase of emergency services
where cellphone service is diminished and;
That staff research and define for clarity what establishing a “Frequency
Reduced Environmental Enclave” or “Beige Zone” would entail and how
this would help those people with electromagnetic sensitivities and further;
That this information be sent out to the residents of Port Franks for their
input on the matter.
Carried
Planning Comments
In today’s world everyone is exposed to electromagnetic and radio frequencies. They come
from electrical and electronic appliances, power lines, wireless devices such as cell
phones, cell towers, cordless phones, security systems, broadcast transmission towers,
baby monitors, wireless laps tops, incubators, smart utility metres for water, gas and
electrical services, video ipods, tablets and the list goes on.
Currently, staff have been requested by Council to investigate and clarify what an
electromagnetic frequency reduced environment or enclave would be and then to clarify if it
could be established and how it would help people with electromagnetic sensitivities.
First it needs to be clarified that no member of the Lambton Shores staff, including myself
has the professional qualifications to advise Council on electromagnetic frequencies or their
impacts on people’s health. Such expertise does not exist in this Municipality as well as in
most others, as the regulating of electromagnetic frequencies is not a legislative function
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