[TowerTalk] FW: Amateur Radio Communications LDC Amendments/http://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/industry/amateuradio.shtml

Wed Jan 7 10:48:12 EST 2009

REF: San Diego, CA antenna restrictions thread of a few months ago.

Here is one way to open up a productive dialogue with the local authorities,
maybe not as much fun as YOUTUBE.

What not to do: Don't flame the local officials, don't flame the mid-level
managers who are just trying to do their job.  But, relate to them or find
someone who can relate to them and then articulate the value of amateur
radio volunteers as it relates to Public Safety and the general good of the
constituency. Notice the existing restriction is 30ft, not 3" as I think was
reported.  What follows is the ARLCO CODE and communications I had with the
Senior Planner from San Diego.

Best,

Dave

Wa3gin

=========================================

Dave, here are the ArlCo Zoning Ordinance rules, under Section 31. Special
Provisions,

2. Structures Permitted Above Height Limit 

a. Penthouses or roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways,
tanks, ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and
maintain the building, and fire or parapet walls, skylights, radio towers,
steeples, flagpoles, chimneys, smokestacks or similar structures may be
erected above the height limits herein prescribed, but no penthouse or roof
structure or any space above the height limit shall be allowed for the
purpose of providing additional floor space. Such structures shall not
exceed twenty-three (23) feet. Penthouses shall be concealed by exterior
architectural material of the same type or quality as that used on the
exterior walls of the building. 

b. Noncommercial radio towers or masts, excluding amateur radio antennas
permitted by Subsection 31.B.2.e., may exceed the height limit by no more
than twenty-five (25) feet. 

c. Chimneys and smokestacks which are an integral part of a penthouse may
exceed the height limit by no more than twenty-seven (27) feet. 

d. County government and public school communication facilities may be
erected to exceed the height limit or height of existing structures by no
more than fifty (50) feet. 

e. Amateur radio antennas shall not exceed seventy-five (75) feet in height
above the ground level. In addition, they shall comply with all of the
following requirements: 

(1) No amateur radio antenna, or support structure therefore shall be
located in a front yard, or within twenty-five (25) feet from any street
setback line or within ten (10) feet from any side or rear property line. 

(2) Amateur radio antennas shall be located only in side or rear yards. In a
zoning district that does not require a rear yard, the antenna may be placed
on a building's main roof, but not on the penthouse of the building. Amateur
radio antennas are permitted to be placed in the side yard, only when they
are attached to the existing main structures. 

(Ord. No. 87-23, 9-1-87; Ord. No. 99-17, 7-13-99)

73,

Will Doggette CSP

Safety Coordinator

Risk Management HRD

Arlington County VA

  _____  

From: Lee, Amanda 
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 4:49 PM
To: 'WA3GIN'
Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Communications LDC
Amendments/http://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/industry/amateuradio
.shtml

David, 

Thank you for your comments and perspective.  We would definitely be
interested in reviewing a copy of Arlington County's ordinance related to
amateur radio antennas.  Do you have any information on typical heights of
these types of installations?  It sounds like the City's existing 30 foot RS
base zone requirement is too restrictive for most operators to comply with.

Is there a reasonable height within which the majority of operators would be
able to comply based on your experience?  The City's intent is of course to
be able to accommodate the majority of these through a ministerial process,
and allow for requests of additional height beyond the base threshold as
needed for effective communication.  Thanks again for your assistance.

Amanda Lee,

Senior Planner

  _____  

From: WA3GIN [mailto:wa3gin at comcast.net] 
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 10:14 PM
To: DSD LDC Team
Subject: RE: Amateur Radio Communications LDC
Amendments/http://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/industry/amateuradio
.shtml

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is David Jordan. I am the Chief Information Security Officer and
Advanced Emergency Technology Liaison to the Office of Emergency Management
in Arlington County Government, Virginia which is home to the Pentagon,
National Airport and over 60 thousand Dept. of Defense workers. Since 9/11
the government has moved aggressively to create and implement an Emergency
Operations Plan and associated Standard Operations Procedures that would as
you state in your subject draft document, ". accomplish the City's purpose
of safeguarding the public health, safety, and general welfare, including
neighborhood aesthetics and community character. Part of the Emergency
Support Function 2 responsibilities within OEM is focused upon emergency
communications primarily supported through amateur radio volunteers by way
of an Auxiliary Communications Service developed in part by FEMA and the
FCC. This protocol is called "Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service" RACES
and was designed to enable local, county and state governments the ability
to manage emergency auxiliary communications volunteers. For more details
regarding this protocol go to www.w4ava.org <http://www.w4ava.org/>   and
click on the RACES links.

Arlington County Government has advocated for engaged amateur radio
operators who choose to support Public Safety through volunteering as RACES
volunteers. The county has installed amateur radio stations in every fire
station, at the 911 call center, the Emergency Operations Center and has
provided co-location space and antenna attachment rights for a system or VHF
and UHF amateur radio repeaters that would support emergency communications
during emergencies, severe weather events, etc. All this after the county
has just upgraded its 800 radio system to P25. You may as "why" the effort
to ensure there is a back-up plan The answer is because when all else fails
amateur radio will be there! That is the history of this technology and
those that practice and develop the talents of in-depth electronic
communications.

San Diego and Arlington may be on opposite ends of the country but I believe
the two jurisdictions have many similarities. We are world class societies
and as such appreciate the individual and group contributions made by our
constituents. For many years Arlington has had a tower permit process which
has served all concerned parties and enabled constituents to exercise the
privileges granted to them through the FCC amateur radio licenses they hold.

I recommend you do everything possible to encourage and enable your
community of amateur radio operators to fully participate and exercise the
privileges associated with the FCC licenses they hold and in so doing you
will be in the best possible position to achieve the mission noted in your
subject draft document. Like Arlington, San Diego requires a back-up plan
for Emergency Communications. Supporting amateur radio operations within the
jurisdiction in conjunction with best practices and an amateur radio civil
defense protocol managed under Emergency Support Function (ESF) 2 is a great
way to achieve this mission.

Since 9/11 over forty jurisdictions throughout the country have utilized the
training materials provided on the web site listed in the lead paragraph of
this note. 

I've visited San Diego several times over the years. It's a great city with
wonderful people and history. Part of that history is the dedicated radio
amateurs that served our nation as radiomen in the Navy, etc. Radio is part
of San Diego's proud heritage. If  the city fathers would like to see a copy
of Arlington County's amateur radio permit process language I'd be happy to
forward a copy for reference. 

Regards,

David Jordan

703-228-3185