I haven't built anything in Wichita but I know the generic civil process.
If you want to "study up" before you present yourself and your project to
the codes enforcement people (and that's a good idea), you should go the
city (if you're in incorporated Wichita) or county courthouse, and ask to
get a copy of their planning & zoning regs, and building and construction
codes. If you're lucky these will be in digital form and they'll give it to
you or sell to you for a nominal fee. It is public information, and that is
the roadmap you must follow.
Once you have the codes, spend several nights going thru the index and find
the section(s) that relate to external structures, buried or overhead
cables, and other stuff that fits in your plan. Get a good understanding of
what they expect and when you go to apply for your permit, make sure that
you have dotted your I's and crossed your T's. Show them everything they
expect to see. At a minimum have the complete US Tower documentation and be
prepared to show how the plans meet or exceed the specs. Having a plat of
your property, which you have drawn to-scale locations and details will be
very help to your cause. If there are restrictions on tower height, set-back
from other property, be sure you have identified them and show that plainly
on your plan.
When your homework is done, go visit the codes office and tell them what you
wish to do, tell them you've read & understood their codes, and that you
want to make sure all your homework is in order. Do not be confrontational
with them, don't quote FCC rules at this time, don't drop names, don't quote
hearsay, etc..."just the facts, M'aam." Ask them to HELP you complete your
project, and they probably will, but keep in mind that their "bible" is are
the building codes and statutes....if you can show that you comply, then
they HAVE to support you...if you don't comply, they will not approve your
plan, and if/when you should have to challenge, they will tell the planning
& zoning commission that you don't comply. Most of the time, it is very
black & white...but there are cases and causes where you might be able to
request a variance, but that's starting to get complicated and may involve
expense if you need to hire an attorney.
If you have neighbors who might be opposed to your project, keep in mind
that these projects are done in the open, and that public hearings allow
interested parties to support or challenge you. Here it'd be good to have
some ARRL, emergency communications, FCC, etc., facts & figures in your back
pocket in case you have a challenge. Don't play all your cards if you don't
have, and don't play them too early.
This kind of thing is done every day...and if you meet the statutes, you
should be in good shape and it'll be easy. If you don't conform, you will
have more of a challenge. Just remember to go in friendly and inquisitive,
and ask what you need to do for them to grant your permit. The codes and P&Z
people are civil servants...they see these projects all the time, and their
job is to make sure that new construction in their jurisdiction meets the
city/county requirements.
Good luck and 73
Dan
K0DAN
----- Original Message -----
From: <jdraughn1@cox.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 11:08 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Building permit Wichita Kansas
> Has anyone gone through the process of getting a permit and putting up a
> tower in Wichita?
>
> If so please let me know what the process was and how difficult it was.
>
> Looking at a US Tower 55' and trying to avoid as many pitfalls as I can.
> Any info would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Jeff, N0OST
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
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