[LeArc] Antenna Ordiance meeting.

[Joe Rossmiller]

A thanks to KB9NAB, KC9EEK, KC9EER, KC9EES, N9SSN, and N9FDB, (Hope I didn't forget anyone) for attending the meeting with Mike Hays, the City Administrator.  What we found out surprised all of us.  The reference to an ordiance of 40 feet for amateur radio antennas was not new legistration.  Instead it is something that has been part of the city code since around 1991.  So the current legistration is not a new restriction on amateur antennas.  They were just referring the fact that amateur antennas are already regulated and using that fact to justify new regulations for cell phone towers.  The City Administrator was impressed by us filling his office on this issue.  He is familiar with amateur radio as his uncle (a silent key) was an amateur operator.  And we left him with the thought that the existing ordiance of 40 feet is too restrictive for effective amateur communications.  The folder of print outs I took in are to be taken up to the zoning officer.  What will become of them there is anybodies guess.  Right now, I do not feel it is necessary for us to have a large turn out at the Monday night council meeting.  Amateur radio antennas are not actually scheduled for discussion.

According to Mike Hays, all existing amateur installations are grandfathered (he had a longer term for it meaning the same thing.)  But new installations would be subject to the current ordiance unless a variance is granted.  This would also apply to replacement of existing towers.  A new 60 foot antenna at a site replacing an existing 60 foor tower would require a zoning variance in order to be legal.  We did not discuss with him what we would have to do to get the current ordiance changed.  But I would think it would involve contacting our city councilmen and persuading one of them to introduce an amendment to the current ordiance.  Perhaps this is something to discuss at the club meeting this coming Tuesday.

Anyone else who was at the meeting and would like to add something I have forgotten, or correct something I have gotten wrong, please don't hesitate to post to the reflector.

73 de Joe.
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