July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Tower height is OK'd (06/13/07)
Portland Board of Zoning Appeals
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
Dropped cellular phone calls may now be less of a problem in areas south and east of Portland.
A request for a variance in height standards was approved Tuesday, clearing the way for a Verizon Wireless cellular phone tower.
The 285-foot tower will be located northeast of Boundary Pike, south of county road 100 South. The city's zoning ordinance, which also includes the area located 2 miles outside of Portland's city limits, has a height limit of 100 feet.
An attorney representing Verizon told members of the Portland Board of Zoning Appeals the tower is needed because reception in that area of the county is poor.
"There will be much better coverage in Portland with the addition of this tower," said Jeffrey Stayte, attorney with Indianapolis firm Clark, Quinn, Moses, Scott and Grahn. "It has been designed to allow three additional carriers to be added to the tower."
Ken Walters, board president, asked how much the tower would improve reception.
Brian Haselby of Verizon said the reception would expand 3 or 4 miles east along Ind. 26, or 10 to 14 more square miles. It also will improve reception inside nearby buildings. An access drive will run northeast from Boundary Pike near the city limits.
The property is owned by Anna Lare, rural Portland. Verizon will lease the land from her.
BZA vice president Ron May asked if the tower would improve cell phone service in Salamonia.
Haselby said reception likely would improve, but he couldn't guarantee it.
Mickey Waters, 1226 Boundary Pike, told the board he thought the tower was a good idea.
Board members Vicki Tague, Larry Petro, Susan Schutz, Walters and May voted in favor of the variance. The new tower is expected to be completed by early 2008.
Also Tuesday, board members unanimously approved two variances in setback requirements.
One will allow the construction of a home and carport by a not-for-profit organization.
The other will allow a Portland man to expand his garage.
Habitat of Humanity of Jay County asked for a variance in setback requirements for a lot located at 440 E. Seventh St.
The property is zoned neighborhood business, requiring any structures to be 15 feet from the property line. The organization wants to build a carport along the property line, and a house 6 feet from the property line.
The house will be near the center of the lot, and the carport will be on the west side of the property.
Also approved by the board was a variance in setback requirements for a garage at 120 E. Sixth St.
Dan Ingram asked for the variance so he could expand his garage 16 feet toward the street, said his wife, Angie Ingram. The addition will be 16 x 24 feet, she said.
The zoning ordinance requires the structure to be 20 feet from the right of way. As planned, the expanded garage will be 3 feet from the right of way.
No one in the audience spoke against either request. Bill Milligan, Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator, said this morning he has not received any written or verbal opposition to any of the three variance requests.[[In-content Ad]]
A request for a variance in height standards was approved Tuesday, clearing the way for a Verizon Wireless cellular phone tower.
The 285-foot tower will be located northeast of Boundary Pike, south of county road 100 South. The city's zoning ordinance, which also includes the area located 2 miles outside of Portland's city limits, has a height limit of 100 feet.
An attorney representing Verizon told members of the Portland Board of Zoning Appeals the tower is needed because reception in that area of the county is poor.
"There will be much better coverage in Portland with the addition of this tower," said Jeffrey Stayte, attorney with Indianapolis firm Clark, Quinn, Moses, Scott and Grahn. "It has been designed to allow three additional carriers to be added to the tower."
Ken Walters, board president, asked how much the tower would improve reception.
Brian Haselby of Verizon said the reception would expand 3 or 4 miles east along Ind. 26, or 10 to 14 more square miles. It also will improve reception inside nearby buildings. An access drive will run northeast from Boundary Pike near the city limits.
The property is owned by Anna Lare, rural Portland. Verizon will lease the land from her.
BZA vice president Ron May asked if the tower would improve cell phone service in Salamonia.
Haselby said reception likely would improve, but he couldn't guarantee it.
Mickey Waters, 1226 Boundary Pike, told the board he thought the tower was a good idea.
Board members Vicki Tague, Larry Petro, Susan Schutz, Walters and May voted in favor of the variance. The new tower is expected to be completed by early 2008.
Also Tuesday, board members unanimously approved two variances in setback requirements.
One will allow the construction of a home and carport by a not-for-profit organization.
The other will allow a Portland man to expand his garage.
Habitat of Humanity of Jay County asked for a variance in setback requirements for a lot located at 440 E. Seventh St.
The property is zoned neighborhood business, requiring any structures to be 15 feet from the property line. The organization wants to build a carport along the property line, and a house 6 feet from the property line.
The house will be near the center of the lot, and the carport will be on the west side of the property.
Also approved by the board was a variance in setback requirements for a garage at 120 E. Sixth St.
Dan Ingram asked for the variance so he could expand his garage 16 feet toward the street, said his wife, Angie Ingram. The addition will be 16 x 24 feet, she said.
The zoning ordinance requires the structure to be 20 feet from the right of way. As planned, the expanded garage will be 3 feet from the right of way.
No one in the audience spoke against either request. Bill Milligan, Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator, said this morning he has not received any written or verbal opposition to any of the three variance requests.[[In-content Ad]]
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