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City Council reviews telecommunication towers policyJan 23, 2010 (The Olathe News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- There are between 65 to 75 telecommunication towers and poles in Olathe. Some towers are easily seen while others blend into areas or are in unpopulated areas. Olathe City Council members discussed changes in how the city regulates towers Tuesday during a study session at city hall. The current telecommunication ordinance was adopted in 2008 and regulates the placement, construction and other issues related to towers. Previously, the city only required the tower's owner to obtain a special use permit. City staff now is proposing changes that place more requirements on owners to disguise towers, making a tower blend in to the environment. For example, light poles at athletic complexes double as communication towers at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Some areas of the country have required that towers be disguised to look like tall pine trees. Council members said they didn't want to go that far because something that extravagant would cost the owner too much money. The city staff, however, has made the following recommendations: * Redefine the definition for disguised (stealth) facilities, making towers blend in more with the surrounding environment. * Require disguised facilities for all new telecommunications facilities located in residential districts or within 500 feet of residential zoning. * Require disguised facilities in mixed use districts, such as commercial/residential zoning. * Include requirements for disguised facilities in the Kansas 7 and North Ridgeview Road corridors. * Identify special use permit requirements, including time limits, on new towers and those up for renewal. The council took no action on the proposed changes. To see more of The Olathe News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.olathedailynews.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, The Olathe News, Kan. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |