On 01/21/2020 4:24 PM Cook, Mary Beth <marybeth.cook@calvertcountymd.gov> wrote:

 

 

Good afternoon Shawn,

Thank you and Happy New Year!

I shared the information you had provided with our consultant handling the zoning ordinance update.  Judy Mackall, Acting Deputy Director, will be handing the project management of the ordinance update.  I have copied her on this email and will make sure she gets a copy of the information as well.

Regards,

 

Mary Beth Cook

Director of Planning & Zoning

Calvert County Government

Department of Planning & Zoning

150 Main Street

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410.535.2348

Marybeth.Cook@calvertcountymd.gov

 

We welcome your feedback.  Please take our customer satisfaction survey.

 

 

 

From: SHAWN DONLEY <donleyst@comcast.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2020 3:16 PM
To: Cook, Mary Beth <Marybeth.Cook@calvertcountymd.gov>
Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Tower Height Limits & Zoning

 

Hello Mary Beth,

 

First of all, happy new year and congratulations on your promotion!

 

I'm still standing by to assist with any changes/updates to the zoning ordinance concerning privately owned towers on private land (i.e. licensed FCC amateur radio operations).

 

Shawn Donley

 

 

On May 30, 2018 at 10:33 AM "Cook, Mary Beth" <Marybeth.Cook@calvertcountymd.gov> wrote:

Good morning Shawn,

Staff is meeting with the Planning Commission tonight to discuss the second draft of the Comprehensive Plan.  The hope is to have it adopted by the end of the year.  Once we know it is headed toward adoption we will be drafting a new timeline for the update to the Zoning Ordinance.  Please feel free to check with me towards the end of the summer and I may know more then.

Thank you for your offer to help update the sections on towers/antennas.

 

Mary Beth Cook

Deputy Director/Zoning Officer

Calvert County Department of Planning & Zoning

150 Main Street

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410.535.2348

Marybeth.Cook@calvertcountymd.gov

 

To learn more about our Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, click on the logo below:

We welcome your feedback.  Please take our customer satisfaction survey.

 

 

 

From: SHAWN Donley <donleyst@comcast.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2018 11:19 AM
To: Cook, Mary Beth <Marybeth.Cook@calvertcountymd.gov>
Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Tower Height Limits & Zoning

 

Hello Mary Beth,

 

Any updated schedule/plans for the zoning ordnance update?  I'm still willing to help with the sections on towers/antennas.

 

Thanks

 

Shawn Donley

On October 16, 2017 at 3:33 PM "Cook, Mary Beth" <Marybeth.Cook@calvertcountymd.gov> wrote:

Shawn,

The timeline for starting the zoning ordinance update has shifted into early next year.  We are currently working on finalizing the first draft of the Comprehensive Plan.  Once we are confident that the Comprehensive Plan is not going to drastically change the zoning ordinance update will begin. 

I have kept your previous emails in a folder with other suggested changes to the ordinance and will make sure they are considered during the update.

Feel free to check back in yearly next year for another update.

Thank you,

 

Mary Beth Cook

Deputy Director/Zoning Officer

Calvert County Department of Planning & Zoning

150 Main Street

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410.535.2348

Marybeth.Cook@calvertcountymd.gov

 

To learn more about our Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, click on the logo below:

We welcome your feedback.  Please take our customer satisfaction survey.

 

 

 

From: donleyst@comcast.net [mailto:donleyst@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2017 8:01 PM
To: Cook, Mary Beth <Marybeth.Cook@calvertcountymd.gov>
Subject: Re: Amateur Radio Tower Height Limits & Zoning

 

Hello Mary Beth,

 

I have not heard much about the zoning ordinance update  in a while.  Last we spoke, I thought something was coming out around now.  Anything we can see yet?

 

Thanks

 

Shawn

 

 

---

From: "Mary Beth Cook" <cookmb@co.cal.md.us>
To: donleyst@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 2:53:42 PM
Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Tower Height Limits & Zoning

 

Thank you for the information Shawn.  I have added it to my folder of items to be considered with the update to the Zoning Ordinance.

Thanks again,

Mary Beth Cook

Deputy Director/Zoning Officer

Calvert County Community Planning & Building

150 Main Street

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410.535.2348

cookmb@co.cal.md.us

 

To learn more about our Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, click on the logo below:

We welcome your feedback.  Please take our customer satisfaction survey.

 

 

From: donleyst@comcast.net [mailto:donleyst@comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 10:25 AM
To: Cook, Mary Beth
Subject: Re: Amateur Radio Tower Height Limits & Zoning

 

Hello Mary Beth,

 

Thanks for the information on the web page.  I'll definitely register.

 

I'll also forward you two older emails on the subject that contain some background info and useful (hopefully) resources for you.

 

Actually, the current Calvert zoning ordnance that affects amateur radio towers (excerpt attached) is in pretty good shape.   The only changes we recommend for consideration are:

1. Changing the maximum allowed height (without a special exception) from 75 ft to 100 ft.  Rational:  Mature trees in Calvert County grow 80 - 100 ft tall.  Foliage attenuates radio signals in the higher frequency bands, sometimes compromising support of public service and emergency communication within the county.  
2. Change the setback for crank-up style towers and monopoles from 75% of the tower height to 100% of the nested height of the tower/monopole.  Keep 75% for other style towers.  Rationale:  Crank-up towers can be lowered to 1/2 to 1/3 of their normal height in adverse weather.
3. Drop language (several places throughout the ordnance) that the applicant must demonstrate  the installation will not cause interference to County radio systems.  Rationale:  I believe this would not pass a legal test because the Federal Communications Commission holds a strong preemption clause against local and state ordinances regarding radio frequency interference.  

I've also received input from various sources that the "one tower per parcel" requirement may be overly restrictive, as well at the total prohibition of towers in a historical district.  Perhaps both might be better addressed under the special exception process (thinking of large farm parcels where a small amateur radio tower would probably not even be noticed).

 

None of these proposals, except maybe #3 for the sake of legal considerations, are a big deal if they are not implemented in the new ordnance.   But the Calvert amateur radio community is certainly hoping that more restrictive or cost-prohibitive requirements are not added.  That's our main concern.

 

OBTW ...  We will be holding a weekly class (running for 10 weeks) beginning in late March for people interested in getting an amateur radio license.  Info at    http://k3cal.org/ if you're interested.

 

Best regards

Shawn

 

 

 

---

From: "Mary Beth Cook" <cookmb@co.cal.md.us>
To: donleyst@comcast.net
Cc: "Julian M. Willis" <willisjm@co.cal.md.us>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 9:56:34 AM
Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Tower Height Limits & Zoning

 

Good Morning Shawn,

Mark shared your email with me since I am working with the County’s consultant on the update to the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance.

The list of specific items staff wants to address in the new ordinance includes revising current tower and antenna regulations to meet current federal regulations.  Any information you could provide now, that would assist amateur radio use in the County, would be included for consideration.

Once a draft Ordinance is available, we would appreciate any comments on it you could provide.

 

I suggest you register on our webpage to receive email updates on the progress for the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance rewrites.  To do so, click on Calvert2040 below and sign up by clicking the “Notify Me” box.

 

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance for your input,

Mary Beth Cook

Deputy Director/Zoning Officer

Calvert County Community Planning & Building

150 Main Street

Prince Frederick, MD  20678

410.535.2348

cookmb@co.cal.md.us

 

To learn more about our Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, click on the logo below:

We welcome your feedback.  Please take our customer satisfaction survey.