[TowerTalk] Proposed Tower Ordinance in Arizona

[Anderson]

I thought the TT group would be interested in what is happening on a
proposed tower ordinance for Maricopa County Arizona, which contains
Phoenix.  The following is forwarded from the local DX reflector.  If you
are in central Arizona, please let your voice be heard.  If anyone has
timely comments, do not reply to me.  Instead, reply to those named at the
end of the message.

73,

George
W7ON

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: K8BN
Date: 30-Jul 0359Z
Subj: Maricopa cnty ant. ord.

Today Mike Fulcher, KC7V and I had an opportunity to meet with the Planning
and Zoning Staff to review the text ammendment being offered to the P&Z 
commission next THURSDAY, August 7th, at 9:30 a.m.  There were a couple of
small changes made, which the staff accepted and added to their staff report
RECOMMENDING ADOPTION by the commission.

Briefly, the actual tower will be permitted to be up to 100 feet, BUT the
mast and any antennas can bring the overall height to 120 feet.

Setbacks will be measured to THE BASE OF THE TOWER, regardless of what
antenna boom length or type is on the tower.  As long as your antenna does 
not go into your neighbors air space, i.e. a plane vertically drawn from
your lot line, you are OK.  Guy wires can be placed up to THREE feet of 
the lot line.  Multiple antenna towers can be placed if setbacks can be met.
No towers will be permitted in FRONT yards, but may be placed on any 
buildable areas of the lot. i.e. side yards if space permits.

Finally, verticals are not regulated as towers, as they are antennas, not
support structures.  Current county rules state that things costing less then
$500 are not in need of a permit.  Lastly, people wishing to put up towers
greatly in excess of 100 feet, say 160 or 200, will apply for a special use 
permit, which although costing a minimum of $1000, can be had, whereas a
variance is almost impossible to get.

The net effect will be to increase the height of towers in every zoning
district as antennas are no longer considered.

The ability to run guy lines to points closer to lot lines will also allow
additional height.

I'll be the first to say that there is always room for improvement, but these
first cooperative steps are in the right direction.

It is very important that we have a good supportive showing at the hearing
next THURSDAY, August 7th, at 9:30 a.m.

The location is the county supervisors auditorium on Jefferson at second ave.
South side of the street.  Bring your wives or friends, as there is a small
group who may show in opposition.  Please show up.  This is important.
If you have any questions call me , Mike or Paul.  We are all reasonably
well versed in the process and text being offered.  Please try and be there.

  73 and DX, Gary Capek, K8BN

 
Comment from W8AEF:

Gary and Mike have worked their tails off on this one.  They have gone from 
P&Z not even reading the proposed ordinance and recommending it NOT be 
approved to actually reading the thing and proposing an ordinance of their 
own for approval.

Also, Mike is the guy that posted the $1000 (non refundable) bond to make 
this happen.  Now it is up to us.  I was able to present 211 signatures to 
P&Z in favor of 2308-A and they admit (verbally) to receiving 'some' 
correspondence.  We will probably have another 100 signatures to present at 
the August 7th hearing but we still don't know what the opposition group is 
up to.  It still upsets me tremendously that the staff report to the Planning 
and Zoning Commission still reports that 178 people are 'opposed to the 
request' (as of 12/9/92) and no mention in writing of any support.
 
If you can attend the hearing on the 7th of August be sure and fill in one of
the yellow PUBLIC HEARING/OPEN MEETING cards that usually are found on the
podium.  Please check the 'in favor' box and write TA 95-03 in for the case
number.

Just in case you cannot make the meeting, or even if you can...
 
Write to:
    Greg Loper, AICP
    Senior Planner
    301 West Jefferson Street
    Phoenix, AZ  85003
 
or send me an email - aef8w@aztec.asu.edu
 
or send me a packet message - w8aef@kc7y.az.usa.na
 
or call me at 580-0015 and I'll write your comments up as a radiogram (please
keep it short tho).
 
Any questions?  Contact:     phone          email
    Gary Capek, K8BN        237-4314    gcapek@getnet.com
    Mike Fulcher, KC7V      585-4800    kc7v@earthlink.net
    Paul Playford, W8AEF    580-0015    aef8w@aztec.asu.edu


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