This is good advice.
But you will never know what will happen until you ask the building official.
Reading the ordinances can be a bit tricky as some places have
gigantic, elaborate antenna ordinances and then somewhere else they
will exempt amateur radio completely or have a different set of rules
to satisfy PRB-1. For example, my town's antenna ordinance limits
towers to 80ft, requires a conditional use permit, co-location with
other wireless facilities if possible, free use by the town for public
safety antennas, a public hearing and 20 copies (I think that's what
it was) of all documentation. All wireless communications facility
must have a fence and other requirements.
That's fine until you go to the definition of what is an antenna and
what is a wireless communications facility. Turns out that the
definition does not include any towers used exclusively by ham
operators or other residential users (such as CB or TV antennas).
Even the building official had to consult with the town's land use
attorney before they OK'ed my building permit. All I needed was a NJ
UCC building permit and not a zoning permit, conditional use permit,
variance or any other special permission.
Anyway, the long and short of it is YMMV.
Ryan, N2RJ
On Fri, Oct 22, 2010 at 7:45 PM, K0DAN <k0dan@comcast.net> wrote:
> 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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>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
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--
Ryan A. Jairam,
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