[South Florida DX Association] ARLB002 ARRL Volunteers, PRB-1 Help Amateurs Get Tower Permits

[Bill Marx]

 SB QST @ ARL $ARLB002
> ARLB002 ARRL Volunteers, PRB-1 Help Amateurs Get Tower Permits
> 
> ZCZC AG02
> QST de W1AW  
> ARRL Bulletin 2  ARLB002
> From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  January 19, 2005
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB002
> ARLB002 ARRL Volunteers, PRB-1 Help Amateurs Get Tower Permits
> 
> Two Midwestern radio amateurs have succeeded in their efforts to be
> allowed to erect antenna support structures on their residential
> properties. Both cases hinged largely on the requirement of the
> limited federal preemption known as PRB-1 that localities
> ''reasonably accommodate'' Amateur Radio communication with ''minimum
> practicable regulation.''
> 
> As a result, city officials in Wheaton, Illinois, have granted John
> Siepmann, N9NA, a permit to build a 42-foot tower in his back yard.
> In Ohio, Brian ''Tim'' McGraw, W8BTM, got the okay from the Colerain
> Township Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to erect a 48-foot tower on
> his property.
> 
> In the W8BTM case, Ohio Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE,
> credited ARRL Volunteer Consulting Engineer Hank Greeb, N8XX, with
> organizing the ham radio community, researching applicable law and
> utilizing other League resources.
> 
> More than two dozen neighbors had signed a petition and presented
> their opposition at the hearing in early December. Thirty radio
> amateurs showed up for the session, and many spoke in support of
> McGraw's application. In addition, ARRL Great Lakes Division
> Director Jim Weaver, K8JE, supplied applicable case law for the
> hearing, while Ohio Assistant SM Bob Winston, W2THU, offered legal
> advice. Professional engineer Herb Nichols, W8HRN, twice testified
> to the technical aspects of McGraw's plans, Phillips said. The BZA's
> December 15 decision was unanimous.
> 
> In Illinois, Siepmann's application for a 65-foot free-standing
> structure faced opposition from his neighbors, who apparently feared
> that the presence of the antenna support structure would lower
> property values and lead to TV and telephone interference. He said
> the city issued him a permit for a 42-foot structure despite
> opposition from more than 100 neighbors and the posting of ''No Radio
> Tower'' signs in front yards. Representing Siepmann was ARRL
> Volunteer Counsel and well-known Amateur Radio antenna advocate Jim
> O'Connell, W9WU.
> 
> According to news reports, Wheaton's attorney told city council
> members December 6 that because of PRB-1, the city would lose any
> court case and had no choice but to issue Siepmann a permit for his
> tower. The city did compromise on its height, however. O'Connell
> says it came up with 42 feet by adding Wheaton's present 12-foot
> ''Over the Air Television Receiving Dish'' (OTARD) antenna height
> limit to its 30-foot height limit for a single-family dwelling.
> NNNN
> /EX
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