[PaQSO] EPA Antenna Hearing (Part 2)

[Hank Greeb]

Shucky durn, I should have read these documents in order.

You didn't say what transpired between the neighbors and the ham who 
wants to put up the tower, but it must not have been pretty.

Still, if the situation hasn't gone completely adversarial, you might 
bring all the data from multiple court cases throughout the country to 
the attention of the township officials and their lawyers, which might 
convince them of the folly of their stance.

72/73 de n8xx Hg
QRP >99.44% of the time
Volunteer Consulting Engineer, Michigan
Professional Engineer, Ohio

On 4/23/2014 10:58 AM, TwelveVDC--- via PaQSO wrote:
 > Tredyffrin Township itself, along with certain neighbors has 
separately hired lawyers to oppose Jeff’s application at the forth 
coming zoning board hearing. Jeff’s antenna structure meets all legal 
requirements, but the nearby residents and the township apparently feel 
that ham radio antennas should not be allowed, despite both Federal and 
State laws to the contrary. During a public meeting, one Tredyffrin 
supervisor called it a "monstrosity" before any discussions even took place.
 >
 > On April 2, 2014 in a very unusual procedural move, the neighboring 
township, Schuylkill Township voted during a Board of Supervisors 
meeting to intervene and oppose the antenna and directed their 
solicitor, at Schuylkill Township taxpayers' expense, to fight against 
the issuance of a permit before the zoning hearing board of Tredyffrin 
Township. This may be a David and Goliath epic fight.
 >
 > I write you because our preliminary discussion with neighbors and 
those groups opposing antennas revealed they generally seem uninterested 
in what amateur radio operators do. I personally was surprised to hear 
defamatory comments about ham radio from otherwise knowledgeable people 
who after seeing ARRL brochures passed out at meetings and hearing our 
discussion on amateur radio said it was "irrelevant," "obsolete" or 
"sounds commercial to me." People specifically denied that amateur radio 
has any place in emergency communications these days. Cellphones and 
internet were perfectly "adequate" anymore in emergencies. I was told by 
the head of a local land conservancy group opposing Jeff’s application.
 >
 > If you are a Tredyffrin Township amateur radio operator, on April 21, 
2014 at 7:30 PM, theTredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors is likely 
to discuss this matter in an open forum during the Board's regularly 
scheduled monthly meeting.
 >
 > We suspect there will be members of the public attending this meeting 
to complain about the application, and possibly to disparage amateur 
radio in general. You should attend this meeting to at least observe and 
listen to what is being said. As a Township resident, you are entitled 
be heard at this Supervisors' meeting. If I am fortunate, I may have an 
opportunity to explain to the board what amateur radio is about, and to 
pass out brochures prepared by the ARRL explaining who we are and what 
radio amateurs have done for over a hundred years. The first Zoning 
Hearing Board hearing is scheduled for April 30 as detailed below, and 
you are urged to attend that hearing as well.
 >
 > If you are a Schuylkill Township amateur radio operator, you should 
immediately call your township representative and demand an explanation 
as to why, without having a hearing in which township resident radio 
amateurs were invited, they voted to oppose Jeff’s application in 
Tredyffrin Township. Ask why they are spending your tax money opposing 
your interests in another township. Visit the Schuylkill Township 
website where you can find the video of a half hour discussion during 
the April 2 meeting about ham radio. You will not be pleased.
 >
 > (End Part 2 of 4)