LIVING HERE
In response to Walworth County’s need for a new cell phone tower…
(as well as a communications tower for fire and police) and Lake Geneva potentially being a selected location for it, the city is working on getting the city’s zoning ordinance current and in compliance with state law. The public hearing regarding recommendations on ordinance amendments to chapter 98: zoning that would affect section 98-203 table of land uses, and section 98-206 (3)(e) pertaining to public services and utilities, section 98-206(7)(c) pertaining to communications towers, and all zoning districts listed in article 2 of the zoning ordinance, took place at last week’s plan commission meeting.
As of 2013 state law specifies that a ‘political subdivision,’ (yes, that’s the weird wording directly quoted from the submission…and what a ‘political subdivision is, is never defined) can use zoning to regulate phone towers but places strict limits on how it may do so. The current city ordinance is very limited and will be changed to comply with state law. The ordinance will be changed to share the verbiage of state law. The changes will make it easier for applicants to get approval for tower placement and will now be regulated by a conditional use permit. The ordinance needs to be changed, which appears to be okay, until a tower goes up in someone’s backyard, or close to it.
Walworth county hasn’t officially requested a tower permit, but it is rumored that the property near or on the property of Cobb Park (on McDonald Road) is property of interest. There seems to be little question that Walworth County needs a new response tower (as most of the regular cell phone towers in the area remain turned off) and that it will benefit police and fire departments and help ensure communication and fast response to all in the county, Why Cobb Park though?
This park is in a beautifully wooded neighborhood and is a great place to relax, away from the hustle and bustle of Lake Geneva’s downtown. A resident of that area spoke at last week’s public hearing, sharing his concerns regarding a tower in the neighborhood and how it would affect the entire area. The fact that the property was gifted to the city so many years ago by the Cobb family, in honor of Katherine Cobb, and that the property which lies on the border of the Town of Geneva and Lake Geneva was subsequently annexed into Lake Geneva should be enough to prevent this location from being approved if such approval is requested.
Mayor Klein is all about the history and beauty Lake Geneva has and was questioning why this property was even on the table. The commissioners agreed with her, although the public hearing was not about a tower request, but only about the verbiage of the ordinance. When the time comes for location consideration the city officials will think twice about the county’s need for a tower and its placement.
Lake Photo of the Week
Geneva Lake Police making their rounds. Love the lake and Lake Geneva.
