A new cell tower that could be installed 100 metres northwest of Hillcrest Drive and the Alaska Highway on Yukon government land will be the subject of a public session set for this evening.

It's one of a number of new towers Bell has begun considering or installing around Whitehorse in an effort to improve wireless services that have seen mounting demand in recent years.

As Bell officials described on a website about the Hillcrest proposal: "Due to a high demand for wireless data devices—like smartphones, tablets and laptops—Bell needs to upgrade its network in Whitehorse. To improve wireless service to the Hillcrest community and Whitehorse Airport, a new telecommunications tower is required where service is most needed.”

The Yukon government property is described as the ideal location for the proposed tower, which could be a 25-m monopole tower or 23-m tripole tower.

However, Bell is also considering an alternative location on the Yukon Bible Fellowship Foursquare Church property at 160 Hillcrest Dr.

Under airport zoning regulations, the tower could not be more than 25 m.

"For over a year, Bell investigated many potential site locations,” officials noted. "A number of locations were not feasible for a number of reasons. Today, there are two locations that work for the Bell network.”

A map on the website shows six other sites in the Hillcrest area were considered but deemed not feasible.

Regardless of whether Bell goes ahead with a tripole with antennas behind a screen or a monopole with antennas at the top, a shelter would be installed at the base and the tower site would be fully fenced with a locked gate restricting access.

This proposal comes forward following significant controversy last year over a new Bell cell tower for the Copper Ridge area off Falcon Drive.

Bell's application to lease city land for the tower came forward (and was later approved).

Numerous residents of the area, however, spoke out against the proposal, arguing of potential health impacts, aesthetic issues and the other negative impacts they believed the tower would bring as well as taking issue with what they argued was a lack of public input on the matter.

On the website, Bell once again provided assurances the proposed cell tower would meet all health standards.

"As with all Bell Mobility sites, this tower will fully comply with the current health and safety guidelines set by Health Canada, which limits public exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy,” it's noted on the website.

"The limits specified in guidelines called Safety Code 6 are based on an ongoing review of published scientific studies on the health impacts of RF energy.”

Right now, Bell's pre-consultation phase on the Hillcrest proposal is underway with residents invited to provide feedback via https://www.placespeak.com/topic/1027-proposed-new-bell-mobility-tower/ or at the meeting from 6:00 to 8:00 this evening at the Skky Hotel in Hillcrest.

"If there appears to be support for a proposal, Bell will move forward and work with the City of Whitehorse on a formal consultation process,” it was stated.

"All correspondence will be shared with the City of Whitehorse at the conclusion of this pre-consultation process.”