River
Heights still working on city law for cell towers
By Diane
Denning
October 10, 2008 | RIVER HEIGHTS -- The Planning Commission
discussed an ordinance that could allow cell phone towers
to be erected around the city.
Planning Commissioner Chris Milbank said in February
AT&T approached the city about building a cell phone
tower 80 feet tall behind the city building.
"At first everyone thought the tower would provide
revenue for the city," Milbank said. The tower would
be built in the Herber Olsen Park, across from the tennis
courts, which is near many homes. Milbank said the more
people thought about the tower the less they wanted
it built.
"People became very concerned about the view," Milbank
said.
The commission decided before they would let AT&T
or other companies build a tower, they needed to have
a cellular communications ordinance in place. The ordinance
would provide specific locations and stipulations of
how the towers could be built. The biggest issue the
commission is facing is deciding how far away from a
residential zone the towers should be.
The commission has been looking at model ordinances
other cities have to decide what is best for River Heights.
The commission issued a moratorium on cell phone tower
conditional use permits for six months to get an ordinance
approved.
"The main issue now is how are we going to reckon
towers in River Heights," Milbank said.
Commission member Lorin Zollinger suggested not allowing
the towers at all. "I don't think anyone here wants
them," Zollinger said.
In order for the city to allow towers to be built,
Milbank said three requirements must be met in the ordinance.
The commission has to show there is a need for the tower,
have options where the towers would be built, and show
how the towers will benefit the community.
"A city ordinance would provide a common guide for
the community to adhere to and follow," Milbank said.
"Everybody would know the rules before they came in."
The commission is going to study an ordinance from
a city in New York and decide at the next meeting if
that ordinance could serve as an outline for their ordinance.
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