Zoning board denies Confederate flag appeal

[Yonnie3]

From CBS 19 TV

It continues ...

Zoning board denies Confederate flag appeal

After two hours of discussion and a public hearing, the Louisa County Board of Zoning Appeals denied an appeal made by the Virginia Flaggers to keep their Confederate flag by Interstate 64 the way that it is.

Last March, the flag was erected in honor of all Confederate soldiers, specifically for Private Richard Willis Proffitt, but the zoning administrator for the county said the flagpole breaks a county code.

<snip>

In April, the county sent out a violation notice to the Virginia Flaggers, telling them to either reduce the height of the flagpole, apply for a special exception with the board of supervisors, or remove it.

However, the group decided to appeal this, saying that the flagpole is a monument and doesn't fall under their zoning ordinance.

<snip>

One sentence paragraphs see the rest at http://www.cbs19news.com/content/news/488582611.html

[beachbum bob]

1. Flying the flag of traitors has no place anywhere in America.

[underpants]

2. The one on 95 is very visible. The one on 64 isn't.

Some local knowledge. We spend much more time on 64 and I just happened to see the flag when we were heading east few weeks ago. I don't think it's visible heading west at least I don't see it. It's a good ways off the highway and mostly obscured by trees.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. They can put up an antenna for amateur radio and hang the flag from it to get around

the county's restriction.

How long has the county had the 60-foot limit? Was that provision enacted specifically for this flagpole, or has it been in place for a while?

[Yonnie3]

4. A recently SK fellow amateur operator put up a 100 footer in Louisa a long time ago.

He had to get permission for that height, so I don't think it's anything new. I don't recall exactly when that was, but it was more than 20 years ago.

Dave was one of those CW ops who could converse at 40+ WPM while driving down the highway.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. So the way it works is, they (the local authorities) have to let you have an antenna, but

they can still put a limit on its height?

I supposed that makes sense. A 500-foot antenna might be out of place in a residential neighborhood. Of course, the FAA would be knocking on your door first. When does the FAA begin to take an interest in an antenna? They must have some lower limit below which they don't care.

And good morning.

[Yonnie3]

6. It's been a long time since I looked at FAA tower restrictions.

There are tighter restrictions near an airport or helipad. I recall 200 feet otherwise. There are a bunch of lighting and painting rules that keep changing.

Much of what I've read about zoning/permit fights over tower height is that most places seem to limit to 50 or 60 feet. It is hard to argue for a higher antenna, because 60 feet is good for 20 meter band and higher frequency beams. On VHF/UHF there are lots of repeaters, both voice and data which don't require a tower to use.

It has been a long time since I had my tower dreams.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. Sitting on my desk I have a Radio Shack HTX-200 handheld

2-meter band transceiver. It has about a 100-milliwatt output. That's enough.