In celebration of borough’s tall tower rules

With so much happening every day in Mat-Su, it can be hard to keep up with all the news.

That’s even true for us, the people who are tasked with seeking out that news and bringing it to you.

This happened to us recently with Mat-Su Borough Ordinance 15-014, which instituted a long discussed set of rules for the construction of towers in the Valley.

The ordinance passed Feb. 3. We were on top of it that week, listening to a recording of the meeting at which it passed and dutifully taking notes.

But other news overtook us.

Still, this is important enough we feel compelled to write about it here, just to note that we may have finally reached an end to what has been a years-long process.

If you haven’t followed this story line, or if you forgotten some of its chapters over the years, here’s a quick recap:

A raft of changes to the tower ordinance came to the assembly several years ago. Instead of passing the amended ordinance, the assembly repealed the all of its existing rules for tall tower construction.

The resulting battle to reinstitute rules was circuitous. A committee was formed to discuss the issue. It went back and forth between the assembly and its planning commission.

This all began in 2008. At some point status quo went all the way back to the start, re-instituting the rules the assembly had initially repealed.

Finally, though, as of Feb. 3 the borough has decided on a set of rules:

• A person or company building a tower has to notify neighbors within a half-mile radius of the site.

• The tower needs a permit if it is more than 85 feet but the permit can come from borough staff rather than through a more involved permitting process.

• Towers taller than 125 feet require a conditional use permit.

Assemblyman Ron Arvin was behind the original repeal of the tower rules. That fact somewhat tempers our applause for his position, but we admit he hit the nail on the head when the assembly considered further postponing a decision on towers during its Feb. 3 meeting.

“This can has been kicked down the road so hard and so feverishly that there’s nothing left of the can. We can dispense with this business today,” Arvin said.

He also proposed the winning compromise to what proved to be the stickiest issue the assembly faced on the matter: how far back a tower has to be from the property line. The compromise: the tower has to be as far from the property line as it is tall, but it that requirement can be waived if the company demonstrates it’s not endangering anybody.

We’ve said a lot in this space about towers over the years. But now, at the end of this long process, all we can express is relief. We’re glad it’s all over. And we’re hopeful these long discussed regulations are up to the task of adequately protecting residents and their property.