[nrv-hams] Fwd: (Fwd) Re: Amateur Radio antennas & towers in Montgomery County

[Carter Craigie]

Bill asked me to forward this to you, Kay.
Thanks, Bill
74,
Carter 

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: wadavis at vt.edu
> Date: August 16, 2013, 4:51:42 PM EDT
> To: QRM at LISTSERV.VT.EDU, carter128 at verizon.net
> Subject: (Fwd) Re: Amateur Radio antennas & towers in Montgomery County
> 
> This invite is open to all that might have useful information about ham towers and ham antennas in general. The planning board is reviewing tower and antenna info for Mont. Co. and are looking for useful input. Joel is a past grad student and instructor in ECE at VT. His background is primarily in controls.
> 
> Please consider this an opportunity to provide useful information and input, not a time to grind an ax in the board (probably would hurt us more than help). I am passing this on since many of you know the headaches and issues with ham towers much more than I do. I also may not be able to attend (Wed, Aug 21, 7PM). My interest is more on antenna in general.
> 
> Besides the planning board issues, I am sure that many of you may have to deal with neighborhood covenents that existed when you bought your place, or predated your ham license. That is a separate issue I think, and is often more of a problem for folks. Anyway, trying to provide a ham perspective and being invited to do this is a great opporunity.
> 
> From what Joel is indicating, please pass this on to other hams in the county who might have an interest. Several of those may be in the NRV club (Carter, maybe you can pass on there as well as let Kay know -- I do not have her e-mail on this computer).
> 
> Bill, W9KIC
> 
> ------- Forwarded message follows -------
> From:                         Joel Donahue <joel.donahue at comcast.net>
> To:                            "Davis, William" <wadavis at vt.edu>
> Copies to:                  Steve Sandy <sandysm at montgomerycountyva.gov>
> Date sent:                  Fri, 16 Aug 2013 14:56:24 -0400
> Subject:                     Re: Amateur Radio antennas & towers in Montgomery County
> 
> 
> Bill:
> 
> Please, by all means tell others. This is a public proceeding operating under FOIA guidelines. We encourage anyone who is interested to attend. We will probably discuss this during a work session and would solicit input from those who notify the staff that would like that opportunity. There will also be a formal Public Hearing this Fall once we are ready to act on any Zoning Code amendments.
> 
> At 02:22 PM 8/16/2013, you wrote:
> I am not sure I can attend. There are a lot of hams that are much more knowledgeable on tower aspects than I am. In fact, the president of the ARRL is my next door neighbor. Is it OK for me to let others know about the meeting -- I almost let them know anyway, but figured I should ask first? My view would be for them to consider this as an opportunity to provide information to the commission and I would encourage them to be positive in their approach and not get into a vendetta -- probably not even related to the board.
> 
> I know there are other issues in terms of safety (building code) and covenants on property. I am not sure how these have typically be dealt with by the courts and I am sure that other hams can provide that info.
> 
> Thank you for the opportunity to address the issues and I hope it would be possible for some folks with more knowledge on the topic to attend.
> 
> Bill
> 
> > Bill:
> >
> > Montgomery County is currently reviewing its ordinances relating to
> > telecommunications towers and antennas. In that process, we found
> > that it was not clear that these ordinances would not improperly
> > limit the use of radio antennas and their associated towers by
> > amateur radio operators. We are in the process of trying to add
> > language, including definitions, to the County Zoning code that would
> > clearly allow amateur radio antennas and towers in most areas with
> > only very limited requirements relating to screening, setbacks and
> > perhaps aesthetics.
> >
> > We invite you to share your knowledge, expertise and experience with
> > the Planning Commission and possibly the Board of Supervisors to help
> > in the above task. Could you attend the next Planning Commission
> > meeting this coming Wednesday, August 21, 7pm, at the County
> > Government Center in Christiansburg? We could certainly use your
> > input. If you are willing and able to help us, please contact the
> > Planning Director, Steve Sandy, who's e-mail address is shown above or myself.
> >
> >
> > Thank you,
> >
> > Joel A. Donahue, P.E.
> > Vice-chairman
> > MC Planning Commission
> >
> 
> ------- End of forwarded message -------
> 
> 
> --
> Dr. William A. Davis, emeritus
> Director of VT Antenna Group (Wireless @ VT)
> The Bradley Dept of Elec & Comp Engr, Virginia Tech
> Blacksburg, VA 24061-0111  [(540)231-6307, 231-3362FAX]
> http://antenna.ece.vt.edu
>