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300-foot radio tower cleared for park location
(by Joan Demirjian - August 11, 2010)
300-foot radio tower cleared for park location
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
Radio coverage for police and fire departments is due to improve in the southwest area of Bainbridge with the addition of a 300-foot-high communications tower.
After hearing testimony Aug. 5, the Bainbridge board of zoning appeals voted unanimously to grant a variance to Geauga County to erect the county radio-system tower at the Geauga Park District's Frohring Meadows park off Savage Road.
Geauga County Commissioners made the application. The State of Ohio is partnering with the effort and will be a collocater on the radio tower.
Geauga County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Bartholomew presented the board with information on communications coverage with a 195-foot tower and a 250-foot tower. Coverage would not substantially increase at those heights, he said.
However, with the 300-foot tower, there would be a drastic improvement, he said, and it would provide communications in the area of the shopping centers on Aurora Road (Route 43) in Bainbridge. He said coverage inside the shopping center stores is difficult.
The impacted area is along the river valley area along Geauga Lake Road in the southwest portion of the township.
There is a 280-foot tower at the Bainbridge road garage off Haskins Road and a 250-foot tower near the location planned for the 300-foot tower. They are still not getting the coverage for the valley area in the township, Mr. Bartholomew said.
The area currently not being covered is about 1,700 acres, he said.
Mark Schultz, who lives on Savage Road across from Frohring Meadows, questioned why the tower isn't located in the area where there is no coverage.
Mr. Bartholomew said they investigated several parcels for the tower, and the most ideal was at Frohring Meadows.
Geauga Park District Director Tom Curtin said the property was left to the park system by the late Paul Frohring for park use. He said members of the Frohring family are aware of the plans and have not registered any complaints.
While conservation is important to the park district, park representatives understand the necessity of the tower and support it, Mr. Curtin said.
Mr. Bartholomew said areas in the southwest portion of the county are a concern as they develop and buildings go up. "We're trying to address this," he said.
The tower will have a blinking light at the top and a white light at midway during the night.
It will serve the sheriff's department as well as police and fire services and help communications in Solon, Chagrin Falls and Aurora. The township requires that tower have space for two additional carriers to prevent proliferation of towers.
Chagrin Road resident Norm Schultz said none of the other parks have towers. "I can't see where it has anything to do with nature." He said it would be like a commercial use of the park.
Mr. Bartholomew said, "It's a public safety use."
The park district is considering public safety, Mr. Curtin said. "We're not thrilled, but we recognize the need."
Zoning board member Mark Murphy questioned the need for a 16-foot gate at Chagrin Road for the access road to serve the tower. "I don't know if anyone wants to see it there," he said.
People walk in that area along the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. easement to the park.
CEI asked for the gate, Mr. Bartholomew said. County representatives could address the subject with CEI, he said.
Savage Road resident Bruce Vernyi, who originally had expressed opposition to plans for the tower at the July meeting, said he has talked to Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland and deputies. He understands the need now, and, while he doesn't like it, "I'm not opposed to it," he said.
In a move to grant the application for the tower in a residential area, board member Michael Lamanna said the county has demonstrated the need for a 300-foot tower at that location. It is close to the existing CEI power lines and it is an approved area for the tower.
As a condition, if anyone else requests to locate on the tower, application must be made to the board of zoning appeals for consideration.
A variance to the rear-yard setback was granted. Township zoning requires 90 feet and the tower site is 11 feet from the property line. It is far enough away from an adjacent structure that it will not pose a danger, the board said.
The board also granted a waiver to the township's requirement to post a cash bond because the applicant is a government entity.
"This is a public safety project," Mr. Lamanna said. It will provide great public benefit to the township as a whole, he said.
Mr. Bartholomew said they will advertise for bids on the tower, which is expected to cost about $400,000.
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