Memorandum 15-159 Tower Regulations

Memorandum 15-159
 

TO:                  MAYOR WYTHE AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH         KATIE KOESTER, CITY MANAGER
FROM:             RICK ABBOUD, CITY PLANNER

DATE:                  September 23, 2015

SUBJECT:     AN ORDINANCE OF THE HOMER CITY COUNCIL AMENDING HOMER CITY CODE 21.03.040, DEFINITIONS USED IN ZONING CODE, HOMER CITY CODE 21.05.030, MEASURING HEIGHTS, AND HOMER CITY CODE 21.70.010, ZONING PERMIT REQUIRED; REPEALING HOMER CITY CODE CHAPTER 21.58, SMALL WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS; AND ENACTING HOMER CITY CODE CHAPTER 21.58, TOWERS AND RELATED STRUCTURES.

I hope to familiarize the council with the draft ordinance regarding tall structures, so that you may provide input and direction on the subject before it comes to you formally. The goal of the ordinance is to minimize the amount of towers and negative impacts, while creating clear expectations for permitting.

The subject of communication towers can become quite technical and some proposals can get controversial especially in and near residential districts. Most of the ordinance is well received. It has been reviewed by those in the industry, but has had little public input so far. The presentation gives an overview of the ordinance and highlights some areas where council input is requested.

While we have worked long and hard to get to the place we are with the ordinance, I am finding technical hurdles when addressing some of the recommendations (one, not in the ordinance yet, regards the use of utility poles for telecommunication equipment).  At this point, I am suggesting that we require a third party review of the applications. The way this works is that we would enter into a contract to give exclusive rights to a contractor to review all tower permits. They would be reimbursed for expenses from the applicant. For this privilege, they will review our ordinance and defend any challenges to their decisions, thus taking the task from Planning.

Additionally, I would like to have council take a look at the height requirements and setback standards for concurrence. The items I wish for the council to provide input are marked with asterisks and have “council input requested” in red at the bottom of the slide.

Att.

Draft ordinance
Tower presentation
Managing Wireless Infrastructure Deployment. Smith, R. E., Practicing Planner, summer 07