Cell Phone Tower Zoning Changes to be Discussed at Tonight's Zoning Code Update Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Don't let this happen to our neighborhoods in DeKalb!

What:  DeKalb County Zoning Code Update Meeting

Date:  June 18, 2013 

Time:  6:30 pm

Where:  Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur

From Commissioner Gannonn:  The members of the Planning & Economic Development Committee (PEDS), including Commissioners Gannon, Johnson and Watson will hold a community meeting on the new Zoning Code.  Please attend.    

From the Briarlake cell tower opposition group and discussed at the Restore DeKalb meeting held this past Saturday:

Our county commissioners are reviewing the proposed changes to the document they use to determine land use in our county. There are reported changes to the rules for zoning of cell phone towers.  

No Briarlake Tower, LLC, is reporting that these changes were written by the industry and, therefore, cater to the industry. Here’s the previous update for reference:   

http://www.nobriarlaketower.org/updates/proposalintheworksforcelltowerzoningcode-badnews 

Stephanie Byrne, President of the nonprofit says, "I invite you to join me in standing up for our community and not allow local code institutions to be circumvented by the telecommunications industry. Yes, we all have cell phones and do business with the telecom industry. That’s fine but let’s keep business where business is supposed to be, not in our school yards situated within our neighborhoods."

For more information, the new cell tower ordinance is at pp. 41-50 at the following link:

http://planningdekalb.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Article4_Master.pdf

The first concerns we have are:

* Process for public notification is not explained or described in detail.

*  Definition about who should be legally notified is not clear.

*  Opportunity for  public to provide input and feedback is not included as part of the process.

*  Zoning allows for cell towers in ANY zoning district.  This  includes residential and is a big change from the current zoning laws which state that residential areas will only be considered when all other possible locations have been considered and deemed to be not viable.  Residential was reserved as a last resort.

*  Setback requirements possibly put homes and other structures into the fall zone of a tower.

*  No exclusions were made for schools, even after the public clearly made the recommendation that towers not be allowed on school grounds in DeKalb by voting on an advisory referendum.

If you have additional concerns, please mention them in the comments section below ad we will compile all comments to forward to the county commissioners before tonight's meeting.  Thank you!