By Tyler Larson

October 22, 2007 | PARADISE -- The Town Council and Planning and Zoning Committee met Thursday to revise town setback ordinances and to further discuss ordinances for the proposed telecommunications tower.

"With the stroke of the pen when we changed that ordinance, we made all those buildings, that were legal the day before, all now non-conforming buildings," Lee Atwood, Paradise mayor, said.

The setback ordinances were changed from one to five feet earlier this year, meaning Paradise buildings have to be at least five feet from the property line. The new ordinances caused confusion among some Paradise residents in regards to their buildings set at the prior one-foot ordinance, the council said.

Because of the confusion, the council decided to clarify the ordinances allowing residents to upkeep and repair buildings that are not in compliance with the current regulations, so long as they do not enlarge or completely rebuild the building. Before, the ordinances stated that only additions were not allowed; however the definition of what they considered an "addition" was unclear, according to the council.

"They can do what they want so long as they don't enlarge the foundation or enlarge the roofline," Atwood said.

The revision was brought up originally when two residents, Dee-Dee Polk and Wayne Norman, brought inquiries to the council in regards to their buildings that are not in compliance with the current setback regulations. Polk has a shed that had fallen down last winter and she wanted to rebuild it. The committee denied her request to rebuild, but allowed Norman to refurbish his barn.

The council said they hope the revision made to the new ordinances will make it clear to the residents what is permissible.

The council then went on to discuss in more detail the proposed telecommunications tower. The tower is being proposed by Jeff Vanderveen from Summit Communications, Inc. and would give cell phone reception for Cingular AT&T users in and around Paradise.

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