PCIA seminar highlights collaborative solutions to zoning
PCIA, an Alexandria, Va.-based membership organization that describes itself as “the wireless infrastructure association,” hosted an educational seminar today.
A statement from PCIA said that the seminar was intended to help zoning stakeholders better prepare for and address the wide-ranging issues that arise during the local zoning process.
PCIA’s president, Jay Kitchen, suggested that many of the unfortunate side effects of zoning – high costs and expenditure of manpower resources – could be avoided through “communication, collaboration and collocation.”
The association said that many of the seminar’s panelists echoed Kitchen’s sentiment.
Ed Donohue, a partner with Cole, Raywid & Braverman, a law form that co-sponsored the seminar, stressed the importance of communication, reminding tower companies that “people will want to know how your facility will impact their view. Be prepared to address this issue, since your opponents will be.”
David Marshall, assistant director, Office of Planning for Fairfax County, Va., told attendees to “remember that land use is a political process.”
Kitchen added that “collaboration between industry, government and communities can have a dramatic and positive impact on the zoning process.”
Referring to a presentation by AT&T Wireless Services Vice President of Land Use Catherine Blue that highlighted a case that went through 61 hearings, Kitchen said, “You can’t tell me that any party involved in that process on day one ever anticipated such an experience. We’re here together today to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
PCIA said that other seminar highlights included a panel on the local government perspective, the legal implications of Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and conducting tower business in a down market.
PCIA said that about 100 people attended the day-long seminar.
