Lockport radio station asks variance for tower
LOCKPORT — Lockport Community Television is planning to launch a radio station and intends to share an antenna with the Rapids Fire Company, the town Planning Board learned Tuesday.
But the board can’t act on the antenna plan until LCTV and Rapids obtain a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the tower’s height.
The radio station WLNF-FM would broadcast at 90.5, according to Richard Zapp, LCTV program director, and Thomas Riley, its executive director.
Zapp said LCTV has been working on moving into radio for three years. The not-for-profit entity operates three cable TV channels in the Lockport area: a public access channel, an education channel and a government channel.
He said the radio station’s programming at first would consist of the soundtracks of LCTV’s top shows, including municipal government meetings, studio phone-in shows and high school sports events that the channels carry live.
Later on, original programming for radio might be added, Zapp said.
“We’ve always wanted to make LCTV a community communications source,” he said.
Riley said the Federal Communications Commission already has approved LCTV’s application for a radio license.
“This opportunity might not occur again. This may be the last time the FCC makes these noncommercial FM licenses available,” Riley said.
The proposed antenna, to be erected behind the Rapids Fire Hall on Plank Road, would be 100 feet high and would not have guy wires, Zapp said.
The town’s zoning ordinance places a 35-foot limit on the height of any structure in an agricultural-residential zone, Building Inspector Brian M. Belson said.
Barry Kobirn, Rapids fire chief, said the fire company would use the tower as a “signal booster” to assist radio communications between fire companies and county dispatchers.
“It’s going to help everybody in the long run,” he said.
Town Attorney Daniel E. Seaman said the town’s telecommunications ordinance would have created a lot more red tape if LCTV had been the lead agency. “As an accessory use for a fire company with [LCTV] co-locating on it, it makes it a lot more viable,” he said.
Zapp said financial arrangements between LCTV and Rapids have yet to be finalized.
Belson said the Zoning Board could consider the height variance for the tower Nov. 24.
A variance also is needed for another project before the Planning Board on Tuesday: a request from Gerald Tomaino of the City of Lockport to open a retail storage facility at 4040 Lake Ave., Wrights Corners.
Tomaino, owner of the Sunset Park mobile home community on Ewings Road in Newfane, said his plans call for four 20-by-180-foot metal storage buildings.
He needs a variance for the buildings’ distance from the road. The town requires a 300- foot setback for a retail project, but the lot is only 311 feet deep to begin with, Tomaino said.
An existing house on the property would be converted into a real estate appraisal office, he said.
Tomaino said he won’t make a formal purchase offer for the Lake Avenue property until he receives the variance. The Planning Board also would have to issue a special use permit.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments