Jeffco commissioners approve tower
Right next to death, taxes, globalization and the tides, there's high definition television. Here's a clip from the Post's story "Jeffco approves TV tower on top of Lookout Mountain":
Jefferson County commissioners today unanimously approved rezoning for a digital-TV broadcast tower on Lookout Mountain.
Saying they felt trumped by a quickly passed federal law, the commissioners said they will enforce building and zoning codes for the 730-foot-high tower.
Lake Cedar Group, a consortium of local TV stations, has sought rezoning for the tower so it can broadcast high-definition TV to the metro Denver area by the federal deadline of February 2009.
"The best way to manage this is to affirm the previous board's approval and continue to monitor compliance with building codes authorized by the official development plan," Commissioner Kevin McCasky said of 2003 actions.
Commissioner Kathy Hartman said was "not exactly thrilled to find myself" in a position of the federal government saying that the county did not have jurisdiction over local issues such as health consequences of tower radiation.
"If we had voted no, everyone would ignore us, and it would have no effect," Hartman said.
There are two stories here. The first is about the tower itself, advancing technology, and the health concerns of the surrounding community. The second is about the way in which our Senators and even the Jeffco commissioners have attempted to gain control of the situation.
In December of last year, I published a story called "More federal government trampling of local concerns." My opinion remains unchanged. Both sides have valid arguments and Washington was too quick to assert itself.
An even better example of this tendency is the Bush administration's decision not to wait for the recommendations of a local committee before proceeding with the auction of oil and gas leases on roadless Colorado land.
I don't mind a strong federal government because issues like terrorism and global warming can't be solved at the local level. But in some cases, Washington simply goes too far.
Jefferson County commissioners today unanimously approved rezoning for a digital-TV broadcast tower on Lookout Mountain.
Saying they felt trumped by a quickly passed federal law, the commissioners said they will enforce building and zoning codes for the 730-foot-high tower.
Lake Cedar Group, a consortium of local TV stations, has sought rezoning for the tower so it can broadcast high-definition TV to the metro Denver area by the federal deadline of February 2009.
"The best way to manage this is to affirm the previous board's approval and continue to monitor compliance with building codes authorized by the official development plan," Commissioner Kevin McCasky said of 2003 actions.
Commissioner Kathy Hartman said was "not exactly thrilled to find myself" in a position of the federal government saying that the county did not have jurisdiction over local issues such as health consequences of tower radiation.
"If we had voted no, everyone would ignore us, and it would have no effect," Hartman said.
There are two stories here. The first is about the tower itself, advancing technology, and the health concerns of the surrounding community. The second is about the way in which our Senators and even the Jeffco commissioners have attempted to gain control of the situation.
In December of last year, I published a story called "More federal government trampling of local concerns." My opinion remains unchanged. Both sides have valid arguments and Washington was too quick to assert itself.
An even better example of this tendency is the Bush administration's decision not to wait for the recommendations of a local committee before proceeding with the auction of oil and gas leases on roadless Colorado land.
I don't mind a strong federal government because issues like terrorism and global warming can't be solved at the local level. But in some cases, Washington simply goes too far.
Labels: Ken Salazar, Lookout Mountain, punditry, states' rights, Wayne Allard
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