An assemblyman has revived plans that would set new ground rules for firms looking to build cell phone towers inside the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
But the proposal, shelved this spring after mixed early reviews from other public officials, continues to draw questions at the Borough Assembly.
The proposal would require companies looking to build a cell tower in zoned land — most notably, property zoned for housing — to first get explicit “conditional use” permission from the Planning Commission.
That requirement is in place, but the
ordinance would replace out-of-date language. It would add a few basic rules for towers anywhere — limiting them, for example, to 150 feet tall unless specific permission comes from the commission.
The plan would lay the groundwork for — but not yet put into play — tougher rules for communications companies building in or near the borough’s more urban, densely populated neighborhoods. Those rules would trigger a stricter public review for any tower proposed in or near town.
Sponsor Luke Hopkins said his plan is based on rules instituted elsewhere, and some assembly members called the proposal overdue. He said the 20-page ordinance would define clear rules for cell-tower construction that firms and neighbors can use to avoid land-use conflicts.
“I wanted to make sure the assembly had the opportunity to ask more questions,” Hopkins said of the decision this spring to temporarily stall the ordinance’s public process.
Those questions will follow the plan to Thursday’s regular meeting, when the ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing.
Assembly member Guy Sattley said Hopkins’ proposed two-stage plan — where a second assembly vote would be needed to define geographic boundaries for the tougher, urban rules — leaves important questions unanswered. He said a proposed urban “overlay” zone would “include outlying areas” despite the ordinance’s original intention of sticking to densely-populated neighborhoods.
“I’m not willing to have faith that the boundaries of that (zone) would be something I can live with,” he said. “I’m open for discussion, but I certainly don’t like voting on an overlay zone that would be brought later.”
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Assembly to review cell phone tower rules
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Date: 06/24/2009
