[nrv-hams] Fwd: Amateur Radio
Russ Abbey
russ.abbey at gmail.com
Sat Jul 28 20:56:21 EDT 2012
*Another thought here. The Franklin County Club fought this as a Club, not
as individuals. It would behoove the Club to get in touch with the zoning
folks and start the process of getting involved. As this code is now
written I think it is way to burdensome on the hams and needs a lot of
work. The State Law spells out what has to happen, but the City can throw
all kinds of road blocks in your way. Especially if they don't want hams
in town like the folks on the left coast.
The people to get in touch with is "Bill Wells W4BOT"
sontag at b2xonline.comor Pete Michel WG2j
michep at yahoo.com. They can give you the lowdown better then me.
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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