Dear fellow PVARC members
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has proposed an amended municipal code for amateur radio antennas that will be discussed at the city's Planning Commission meeting next Tuesday evening, July 28.
The proposed amendments have the practical effect of making it much more difficult to obtain an amateur antenna extending over 12 feet above a home's roof-line. All existing approved amateur antennas in RPV are exempted from the proposed changes and would be allowed to remain as is. But anyone seeking a "first-time" or new antenna installation would experience far more "hoops and hurdles." The proposed code amendments would likely accommodate the needs of many hams interested only in VHF/UHF emergency communication without having to go through city review or costly fees. However those interested in DXing, contesting, or use of certain low bands---take note.
Your comments to the Planning Commission are encouraged whether in writing prior to the meeting or verbally at the meeting. Due to COVID-19 next Tuesday's meeting will be held virtually using the Zoom videoconferencing platform, not in-person at Hesse Park. The meeting will be viewable over the City's website at http://www.rpvca.gov/772/City-Meeting-Video-and-Agendas and on Cox Cable channel 33 or FiOs channel 38. If you wish to participate at the meeting via telephone comments please fill out and submit this form: https://www.rpvca.gov/participate.
Key links to view:
- The city staff report on this matter including the proposed antenna code is viewable at https://rpv.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=5&event_id=1493&meta_id=84779;
- the Planning Commission meeting agenda is at https://rpv.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=5&event_id=1493;
- full information on how to comment or speak at the meeting at: https://rpv.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=5&event_id=1493&meta_id=84775. As indicated, if you have written comments please email them by Tuesday afternoon to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with reference to "Proposed RPV Non-Commercial Amateur Radio Antenna code amendments." You are also encouraged to speak at the meeting by registering your intent with the city as shown on the link above.
Summary of proposed changes:
City staff is recommending reducing the height levels at which amateur antennas need increased levels of city review and public participation. Ham antennas defined as "exempt" from city review would be those extending 12' or less from a building roof, down from 16' currently. Ham antennas needing approval by the city's Director of Community Development would be those from 12' to 28' high, reduced from the current 16' to 41'. Lastly, it's proposed new amateur radio antenna structures over 28' would need Planning Commission approval for a permit in addition to Director of Community Development approval, versus currently only structures over 41'. New antennas may still be over 41' in height and would continue following the existing city review process for such structures...but with some new wrinkles.
The code changes also propose all new antenna structures over 12' above a roof require notifying every property owner within a 500-foot radius of the antenna site instead of only adjacent property owners. Additional proposed code provisions would eliminate any use of guy wires, lattice-style towers, or "oil derrick towers" and require all non-exempt antenna structures to be painted or otherwise colored to blend with surroundings as much as possible. (Most amateur radio towers available nowadays are slender lattice structures, which provide both strength and aesthetic openness.)
An "unreasonable" (in my opinion) proposed code amendment requires applicants to construct an actual mock-up of any proposed antenna structure and its antenna for the public review process. These will be very difficult and costly to custom build. An "impractical" proposed amendment would require every antenna structure over 12' to have a motorized mechanism lowering the antenna to its lowest height when not in use. The problem here is that antenna tower cables and motors are not designed for extensive up-down-up operation during each day.
Perhaps you will have additional viewpoints after reading the proposed antenna code. We realize this is a lot of information to absorb but the city staff report and meeting agenda were not viewable on the city website until yesterday (Friday, July 24).
Thanks for listening and we look forward to your comments to the Planning Commission before or during next Tuesday's Planning Commission meeting. Amateur radio antenna codes in Rancho Palos Verdes can eventually reach other nearby cities, so input is also sought from hams in other cities (especially those on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.)
73,
Diana, AI6DF