No New Cell Phone Towers in Wayzata (For Now)

A temporary moratorium on the construction of new wireless communication towers within the City of Wayzata has been extended.

City council members unanimously passed the moratorium extension Tuesday in order to give the city’s planning commission more time to study the issue and compile recommendations on future policy.

Municipalities across the country have found themselves wrestling with how best to deal with cell phone towers in recent years. The Minnesota State Wireless Association will be workshopping with city leaders in the coming months to give guidance on how to abide by existing state and federal legislation and assist in explaining standards being set in other parts of the state and nation. 

City staff has also informally met with local consultants specializing in the issue, as well as representatives of Mill City Electric, in recent weeks as they try to better understand changes in technology and what advancements in wireless communication can be expected in the coming years.

With a the first six month moratorium on wireless facilities passed earlier this year, Mayor Ken Willcox wondered aloud whether another six month extension would violate clear federal laws prohibiting U.S. municipalities from enacting ordinances so restrictive that they prevent wireless companies from setting up shop.

The short answer, according to the city’s attorney, is no.

“We couldn’t just willy nilly decide we don’t want new cell towers in Wayzata for a year,” City Attorney Meller said. “This is a temporary stay.”

Wayzata has not seen a “back up” of new applications for cell phone towers since putting a moratorium on their construction, and existing equipment already in place can be upgraded while the moratorium is in place.