Hamlin hosts informational meeting
on proposed radio tower

Those interested in sounding off on a proposed Hamlin radio tower should mark January 23 on their calendar. At a 7 p.m. public informational hearing the Hamlin Town Board will host George Kimball, owner of WMJQ-FM, to speak with residents and answer any questions that they may have.

Town Supervisor Austin Warner said he was in favor of having a public hearing before anything was done.

"I've given a memo to everyone on the support boards encouraging them to be there," said Warner. "I thought the first thing to do would be to have a public hearing."

The proposed tower would be located west of Wiler Road and south of Brick Schoolhouse Road. Officials of Canandaigua Broadcasting, Inc., the operator of WMJQ, have notified the town that a new transmitting facility on a 340-foot tower is necessary for it to serve the area for which it has a federal license. The company has secured an option to lease land at directly southwest of 65 Wilder Road.

In order for this project to proceed, the town must rezone the property from its current status of commercial/neighborhood business to residential very low density. This property is located adjacent to land which is zoned residential very low density.

The tower construction would also require two variances. First, the tower exceeds the current height variance by 140 feet. Second, the set back variance requires a set back of two times the tower's height. The available set back is nearly 500 feet too short.

A notice for the meeting was published in the Hamlin-Clarkson Herald and in the town's newsletter and Warner said he has not heard from any concerned residents. "I haven't fielded anything," said Warner. "Nobody has called."

Norm Baase, chair of the Zoning Board, said whether the property would be rezoned may have a lot to do with what local residents feel about the project. "Over the years there has been quite a bit of resistance to towers," said Baase. "Nowadays people are starting to realize that to have everything that they want, towers are needed in many cases."

While the tower may be necessary, Baase did say the Zoning Board does not make these exceptions often. "I told Mr. Warner that the Zoning Board will take a look at this with an open mind, but it normally doesn't happen that much," said Baase. "It usually has a lot to do with residents' responses."