Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wireless Overlay topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission debates wireless communications overlay, 110% fall-zone standard and federal compliance
Summary
Commissioners discussed a proposed wireless communications overlay, residents' objections in Scow Bay, development standards (including a proposed 110% fall-zone setback), and limits of local enforcement of FCC/FAA technical standards; staff said the related tower ordinance is now before the borough assembly for three readings and the commission agreed to revisit the overlay in August after assembly action.
The Petersburg Borough Planning and Zoning Commission spent its commissioner-comments period debating a proposed wireless communications overlay, how to draft development standards and how federal regulatory limits affect local enforcement.
A commissioner relayed input from Scow Bay residents opposed to including rock-pit areas in the overlay and requested those areas be removed from automatic overlay treatment and instead considered through the standard planning-commission review. The commissioner said residents were concerned about erosion and water-quality impacts.
Commissioners discussed a set of potential development standards to add to the overlay, including a commonly used ‘‘110% of tower height’’ fall-zone requirement intended to keep any failed tower debris on the property. One commissioner said, “I like the idea of including that… 110%. It just makes a lot of sense,” arguing it reduces risk to neighboring properties.
Members also debated how to assure compliance with federal technical standards. Staff member Liz said the commission could require that applicants comply with all applicable federal and state regulations and obtain FAA certifications where applicable, but acknowledged that FCC technical enforcement is handled at the federal level. An online commenter who identified himself as David BBE argued for a moratorium on local approvals, saying in part, “there needs to be a moratorium placed on all of these actions” until federal rulings better align with public-safety concerns; commissioners responded that they believe there is a safe way to proceed and that local standards can reduce community concerns.
Staff told the commission the revised tower ordinance has been repackaged and is now with the borough assembly for three readings (including a public hearing in July); commissioners agreed to revisit the overlay as a commission item in August after the assembly completes its readings so the commission can adopt standards with the assembly ordinance in view.
Commissioners also raised related issues — FCC and FAA compliance language, limits on lighting (no lights except as required by FAA), monitoring/enforcement questions, and the need to coordinate tower standards with any service-area boundaries — and asked staff to return with draft development standards for future discussion.
The commission did not take formal action on the overlay at this meeting; it agreed to continue work and bring the topic back under commissioner comments in August once the assembly’s schedule is clearer.
