City officials continue to struggle to find consensus on regulations to manage 5G deployment in the city limits.

The idea is to implement design standards for the equipment that will bring that service here. The discussion has centered on potential aesthetic concerns as well as possible revenue that could come as a result of the expansion.

The Warren City Council had met with other city boards and tabled action on a set of regulations until Monday’s meeting.

Randy Rossey, the city’s director of codes and planning, stressed to council that if the “proposed ordinance is not adopted, the city will have no recourse to prevent wireless providers locating… wherever they choose.”

The city would also be left exposed to “any design regardless of the aesthetic comparable with the area.”

He advised that it would be “in the best interest of property owners” to enact the regulations.

Discussion at the council level immediately shifted away from the legal to the practical considerations and no one was quite sure whether this development will bring 100-foot towers or add-ons to existing infrastructure.

Councilman John Wortman said he had 33 amendments he would propose if council decided to act on Monday but he asked for an expert in the field to come in and be able to discuss the actual equipment in more depth.

Council tabled action pending such a meeting.

The city’s Planning Commission continued the discussion on the issue during Wednesday’s meeting.

Commission chair Angie Dart said she was “discouraged they (council) didn’t call on me for their questions. Some of the information they’re seeking can be answered from this commission without going to outside resources.”

She highlighted the importance of preserving the historic nature of the city and that element’s role in attracting people as reasons to move ahead with these regulations.

“If we don’t take care of what we have, we’re going to lose it,” she said, suggesting that council is missing out on the experience the Commission can bring to the table.

“The ordinance is there to protect property owners,” she said, arguing that property values would be impacted if a neighbor erects such a tower. “You can’t pick your neighbors,” she added.