[TowerTalk] Fwd: Bay Area Structural Engineer Needed

[Steve Jones]

Grant-

I agree.  The key is to obtain the  original code/ordinance language and 
understand it.  I found most of the counter staff at the County were not at 
all familiar with the parts of their own code that applied to my tower, 
since they hadn't seen such an application in many years.  Once I quoted 
them chapter and verse from their own ordinance, major complications such as 
a Use Permit and CEQA Environmental Study went away.

-Steve
N6SJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grant Saviers" <grants2 at pacbell.net>
To: "Hans Hammarquist" <hanslg at aol.com>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 8:58 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Bay Area Structural Engineer Needed


> Ah yes - fees to discourage pursuit of "rights".  The Santa Clara County
> codes specifically permit solar panels ANYWHERE.  I applied for the
> building permit for mine, way in my back yard. County Planning said,
> "you need a special permit review" which will cost $6900 and if you want
> to appeal our decision, the processing cost for an appeal is - guess -
> $6800, win or lose.
>
> So, my lawyer talked to County Counsel and resulting fee was zero for
> the "planning review".  All that I paid was the building permit fee.
>
> Lesson - read the codes relative to what you want to do.  Understand
> that the prime directive of every bureaucracy is to garner more power
> and more money.  Given the fed/state/local budget crisis, they WILL
> stretch or flaunt the law to get MONEY.  Get a lawyer.
>
> Grant KZ1W
>
> On 3/15/2011 7:47 PM, Hans Hammarquist wrote:
>>
>>
>>   I believe there some "reasonable ..." in how much the "authorities" can 
>> charge. High fees can be construed a a way to stop us from pursuing our 
>> legal rights. Give ARRL a call and inquire about help. I did and with an 
>> attorney behind you things get soooo much easier.
>>
>> Also remember that a tower does NOT generate any radio radiation, the 
>> presence of an antenna does and a tower holding that antenna will reduce 
>> the level due to the increased distance between the antenna and its 
>> surrounding. (Too many "friends of the environment" love to bring in the 
>> "danger" of radio waves.)
>>
>> Hans - N2JFS
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Jerry Gardner<jerryw6uv at gmail.com>
>> To: Steve Jones<n6sj at earthlink.net>
>> Cc: TowerTalk<TowerTalk at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Sat, Mar 12, 2011 6:58 pm
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Bay Area Structural Engineer Needed
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 12, 2011 at 11:43 AM, Steve Jones<n6sj at earthlink.net>  wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> Good luck, I feel for you, because they never give you a complete list 
>>> of
>>> requirements when you apply.  It seems as if they make up the rules as 
>>> they
>>> go along!
>>
>>
>> Thanks, Steve. I know what you mean about it seeming like they make up 
>> the
>>
>> rules as they go along. Neither of the two guys I spoke to in the country
>>
>> building department had ever heard of amateur radio and assumed I was
>>
>> planning to put up a cell tower or radio station tower on my property.
>>
>>
>>
>> The worst news coming out of my visit to the county office was them 
>> telling
>>
>> me I live in a section of the county under the jurisdiction of a special
>>
>> planning commision and have to apply for a use permit before I can even
>>
>> apply for a building permit. This requires a $500 fee (which may increase 
>> if
>>
>> the planner takes more time to work through the details), site visit,
>>
>> notification of neighbors, etc., and will take at least two months. Then, 
>> if
>>
>> they approve, I can apply for a building permit. :-(
>>
>>
>>
>> 73, Jerry
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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