Hamlin residents speak out
against radio tower proposal
50 turn out to discuss proposed radio tower

About 50 people turned out for an informational meeting to hear and talk about a proposed 340-foot radio tower in Hamlin. George Kimball, owner of Canandaigua Broadcasting Company, is hoping to erect the tower on land that the company has secured an option to lease directly southwest of 65 Wiler Road.

From that tower Kimball plans to broadcast WMJQ-FM, a 6,000 watt station. In order to break ground for the tower, the town must rezone the property from commercial/neighborhood business to residential very low density. This property is located adjacent to land which is zoned residential very low density.

The tower would also require two variances because the tower exceeds the current height variance by 140 feet, and 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.

Kimball, with the help of a lawyer, engineer and his general manager, Alan Bishop, presented those in attendance with the intentions of Canandaigua Broadcasting Inc., and the ways in which the station would work with the town.

"We're good neighbors," said Kimball. "We hope that we will be accepted as good neighbors."

Not everyone was willing to welcome the radio tower. Residents asked questions about how the tower might affect property value, how the tower would detract aesthetically from the area, the effect on wildlife, whether the radio tower poses any health risks, the potential risk to crop dusters and whether the radio tower would interfere with other frequencies.

Kimball said the tower should not harm property value, people's health, crop dusters or other area frequencies. Kimball did say the tower might be hazardous if it falls in the flight pattern of migrating birds and he acknowledged that the tower takes away visually from the area.

Kimball said his company will take steps to help mitigate any negative affect the tower will have aesthetically. The Canandaigua Broadcasting Company is prepared to give the town $50,000 to $100,000 to purchase park land or make improvements to current park areas.

"Obviously a 340-foot tower will be seen," said Kimball. "But this should be the last tower that the town has to see." Kimball said because of the tower's height it could also be used by cellular companies who would otherwise be looking to build towers in the area.

Tim Rabjohn, who lives in Albion and owns about 175 acres near the proposed tower site, said he came out to find out more about the project. "I guess my main concern is that this is going to detract from neighbor's properties," Rabjohn said.

Nancy Jennejahn, who lives one block east of the proposed site, said she is worried about the potential impact on the environment. "I think it is too high for one thing," said Jennejahn. "I know something like that is a detriment to wildlife, especially birds."

Kimball said the station, whose format has yet to be determined, will run a large number of public service announcements and cover local news for western Monroe County. "When was the last time one of the major Rochester stations mentioned Hamlin or Brockport?" asked Kimball. "We'll mention them every hour."

Kimball explained that he hand picked the land in Hamlin he is proposing to use for the tower because he felt it affected as few people as possible.

"You'll never find an area where no one lives, but this had the fewest amount of people nearby," said Kimball. The company is under federal restrictions as to where WMJQ-FM's tower could be placed. Kimball said it had to be a certain distance from Brockport, Hornell and Canada. "Eighty percent of the available land fell in Hamlin," said Kimball, adding that the remainder was in Clarkson.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Warner conducted an unofficial straw poll to see where public opinion fell. The majority was opposed to the tower. "The majority of the people who had concerns live in the immediate area of the proposed site," said Warner. "We need to see if those concerns can be answered."

At this point, there is no action needed at the government level as there has not been any official requests to rezone the property.

Kimball is hoping that WMJQ will be his seventh station. The company owns six: Canandiagua's WCGR-AM (1550); WGVA-AM (1240) in Geneva; WSFW-AM (1110) and WLLW-FM (99.3) in Seneca Falls; WAUB-AM (1590) in Auburn; and WNYR-FM (98.5) in Waterloo.