[nrv-hams] Fwd: Amateur Radio
Russ Abbey
russ.abbey at gmail.com
Sat Jul 28 20:48:38 EDT 2012
*Danny,
Do you have Rogers email? I have information from the Franklin County
Club's fight with zoning I need to pass to him.
Russ, KG4MAV
*
On Sat, Jul 28, 2012 at 2:04 PM, <dwylam at verizon.net> wrote:
> I hope everyone will read this. I have not verified any of it but it
> applies to all of us if true.
> 73
> Danny
>
> ----------Original Message----------
>
> From: Roger Galloway **
> Date: Jul 28, 2012 12:26:03 PM
> Subject: Amateur Radio
> To: dwylam at verizon.net
>
> Hello Danny,
>
> My name is Roger Galloway and I hole an extra class license, KU8Z. I live
> in Christiansburg and have been trying to get approval to install a 12 foot
> to 41 foot crank up tower and beam antenna. Currently, the town has
> informed me amateur radio lattice towers are not allowed in residential
> districts. I pointed out to them they were in violation of Federal PRB-1
> and the Virginia State Code. I even attended a planning committee meeting
> to discuss the town's zoning code. Currently, according to the town, only a
> monopole is allowed in residential districts provided you give the town
> $10,000.00 for a bond, a $500.00 conditional use permit fee, 5 sets of
> professional engineer's drawings of the lot and location of the monopole,
> etc. When I complained and said the requirements were written for
> commercial cell phone towers, Mr. Wingfield, the planning director/zoning
> administrator, agreed but said it could take a year or longer before
> anything could change. I complained at the planning committee meeting, Mr.
> Wingfield gave that response over a year ago and the code was recently
> changed, but nothing was done concerning amateur radio.
>
> The town committee is working on amending the town code to allow amateur
> radio towers. However, the requirements of the new code are so restricting
> and prohibitively costly, I don't think any amateur would be able to erect
> an antenna and support structure. I obtained a copy of the proposed zoning
> code and they are going to require the following...
>
> * B. Amateur radio towers. The guidelines set forth in this
> section shall govern the location of all amateur radio towers and the
> installation of antennas and accessory equipment structures for such;
> amateur radio towers are.*
>
> * *
>
> * 1. Location. Amateur radio towers, with a related unmanned
> equipment building shall be permitted in Zoning Districts as indicated in
> the permitted uses section of each District, subject to obtaining a zoning
> and use permit as provided herein, and to the requirements and limitations
> set forth in this section.*
>
> * *
>
> * 2. Aesthetics; lighting.*
>
> * *
>
> * (a) The height of amateur radio towers shall not exceed the
> allowable heights as specified in the definitions of this Chapter.*
>
> * *
>
> * (b) Amateur radio towers shall either maintain a galvanized
> steel finish or, subject to any applicable standards of the FCC or FAA, be
> painted a neutral color.xxx??*
>
> * *
>
> * (c) At a facility site, the design of the buildings and
> related structures shall use materials, colors, textures, screening, and
> landscaping that will blend the facilities to the natural setting and the
> built environment. The related unmanned equipment structure shall not
> contain more than 750 square feet of gross floor area or be more than 12
> feet in height, and shall be located in accordance with the requirements of
> the zoning district in which located.*
>
> * *
>
> * (d) Amateur radio towers shall not be artificially lighted,
> unless required by the FCC or FAA. If lighting is required, the Zoning
> Administrator may review the available lighting alternatives and approve
> the design that would cause the least disturbance to surrounding views.*
>
> * *
>
> * (e) No advertising of any type shall be allowed on any
> amateur radio tower.*
>
> * *
>
> * (f) Satellite and microwave dishes attached to amateur radio
> towers shall not exceed two feet in diameter.*
>
> * *
>
> * 3. Federal requirements. All amateur radio towers must meet
> or exceed current standards and regulations of the FAA, the FCC, and any
> other agency of the federal government with the authority to regulate
> amateur radio towers. If such standards and regulations are changed,
> then the owners of the amateur radio towers governed by this ordinance
> shall bring such structures into compliance with such revised standards as
> required. Failure to bring amateur radio towers into compliance with
> such revised standards and regulations shall constitute grounds for the
> removal of the amateur radio tower at the owner’s expense.*
>
> * *
>
> * 4. Building codes. To ensure the structural integrity of
> amateur radio towers, the owner of such shall ensure that it is constructed
> and maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable
> federal, state, and local building codes and regulations.*
>
> * *
>
> * 5. Information required. Each applicant requesting a zoning
> and use permit for a new amateur radio tower shall submit one copy of a
> scaled site plan and a scaled elevation view and other supporting drawings,
> calculations, and other documentation, signed and sealed by appropriate
> licensed professionalsxxxxxxxxxxx, showing the location and dimensions of
> all improvements, including information concerning topography, radio
> frequency coverage, height requirements, setbacks, drives, parking,
> fencing, landscaping, easements, adjacent uses, and other information
> deemed necessary to assess compliance with the regulations of this
> ordinance. Additionally, the applicant shall provide actual photographs
> of the site from designated relevant views that include a simulated
> photographic image of the proposed amateur radio tower. The photograph
> with the simulated image shall include the foreground, the midground, and
> the background of the site.*
>
> * *
>
> * **6. Setbacks. **Amateur radio towers, guys, and accessory
> facilities must satisfy the minimum zoning district setback requirements
> for primary structures as well as setback requirements of Chapter 6
> “Antennas”. Additionally, **amateur radio towers **in excess of 35 feet
> in total height shall have a**n additional setback **of one foot for
> every one foot in height in excess of 35 feet.*
>
> * *
>
> * **7. Security fencing. **Amateur radio towers shall be
> enclosed by security fencing not less than six feet in height and shall be
> equipped with appropriate anti-climbing device.**xx??*
>
> * *
>
> * **8. Landscaping. **Amateur radio tower facilities shall be
> landscaped with a buffer of plant materials that effectively screens the
> view of the support buildings from adjacent property. The standard
> buffer shall consist of a landscaping strip of at least four feet wide
> outside the perimeter of the compound. Existing mature tree growth and
> natural land form on the site shall be preserved to the maximum extent
> possible. In locations where the visual impact of the **amateur radiotower would be minimal, the landscaping requirement may be reduced or
> waived by **the Zoning Administrator.**xx??*
>
> * *
>
> * **9. Removal of abandoned **amateur radio towers. Any**amateur radiotower that is not operational for a continuous period of
> **180 days shall be considered abandoned, and the owner of such **amateur
> radio tower shall remove same within 90 days of receipt of notice from
> the Building Official or Town Manager notifying the owner of such removal
> requirement. Removal includes the removal of the **amateur radio tower,
> all subterranean tower and fence footers, underground cables and support
> buildings. The buildings may remain with the approval of the landowner.**
> xx If the **amateur radio tower is not removed per this section, the
> Town may require the landowner to have it removed. In all cases, the
> site shall be returned as closely as possible to its original condition.**
> xx??*
>
>
>
> This ordinance shall become effective upon adoption. If any part of this
> ordinance is deemed unlawful by a court of competent jurisdiction all
> remaining parts shall be deemed valid. Ordinances or parts of any
> ordinances of the Town whose provisions are in conflict herewith are hereby
> repealed.
>
>
> As you can see, it would be prohibitively costly and difficult to comply
> with these requirements. I am in the process of obtaining an attorney
> because I do not believe the proposed, and current code, follow the State
> Code. I am hoping to contact as many Christiansburg hams to force the city
> into writing a code which would allow amateurs to erect antennas and
> support structures.
>
> My reason for writing is to ask if it would be possible to have this
> information (my email) distributed to amateurs in the club? I will gladly
> keep the club posted concerning my fight to erect my U.S. Towers TMM541SS
> tower and beam antenna. It would be nice to be able to have other hams who
> might attend some of the hearings concerning the right of an amateur to
> have an antenna structure within the town. If you would like to speak about
> this, call me at 540-381-5670 and leave a message with a call back number.
>
> 73,
> Roger KU8Z
>
>
>
>
>
>
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