Dalton Gardens is taking a closer look at how to regulate the placement of cellular technology after a group of citizens raised concerns at the city’s Planning and Zoning meeting Thursday night.

The city wants to craft ordinances to regulate how and where wireless cell technology can be placed within its limits in response to inquiries from wireless providers about local laws governing the use of the tech.

“If we don’t have an ordinance, then a provider can come in and get a court order," city planner Rand Wichman said before the meeting. "Under federal law, they can get a court order saying, ‘Look, the local jurisdiction doesn’t provide for it,’ and the court says, ‘Yep, knock yourself out.’ And the city would have no say in the matter.”

A group of citizens — the local chapter of the advocacy group Wire Idaho — gave a presentation Thursday night to the Planning and Zoning Commission, warning of what they perceive as dangerous health risks affiliated with the technology.

“There was a lot of good information brought forward,” commission member Tyler Drechsel said. “It’s awesome to see the citizens take part in the process, especially with something they’re obviously passionate about.”

The presentation was originally scheduled for late January, but technical difficulties postponed the virtual broadcast until Thursday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

In the presentation, Wire Idaho alleges a variety of theories, ranging from the notion the same waves 5G uses can be used to conduct full body scans, to comparing wireless carrier antennas to industrial factories, to the irradiating of nearby schools by poorly-placed small cell towers.

Many of these theories have been dismissed by a general consensus of the scientific community, but that didn’t stop the group from presenting its slideshow that affirmed some of these beliefs. It showed an overabundance of 5G signals could lead to the death of local birds, escalated violence among children and harmful air pollution.

The presentation also referenced how continuous exposure to electromagnetic microwave radiation can suppress melatonin and weaken the immune system, two theories that jibe with studies from the National Institutes of Health.

For that matter, Wire Idaho didn’t advocate Thursday night for rejecting the installation of cell towers. Rather, the group pressed for one vertical macro tower, rather than several micro-towers, at the west end of Dalton Gardens, far from schools and homes.

Wire Idaho also disputes the notion the city is powerless to legally challenge the installation of small cell technology.

“Some things they presented, I was unaware of,” Drechsel said. “It’s enough to make me take a second look at it, particularly in regards to where the legal ramifications are, with respect to the location of cell towers. It’s worth looking at what can we do as a commission to regulate this matter, and where we have clearer, better authority.”

The commission decided to send the matter back to city staff for review and possible adjustments as they draw up a potential ordinance. The proposal will then go back to Planning and Zoning for future consideration. If Planning and Zoning gives the go-ahead, the proposed ordinance would then go to the City Council.