Agenda - Council - 03/27/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(Dam) Mr. Jerry Miller, Chief Engineer WCCO Radio 625 Second Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 Re: Former lC&NO Radio Station Property (PIN 36-32-25-21-0006) This letter is in response to Mark Hamel's letter to me dated November 27, 1989 and a meeting between yourself, Nell Swanson, Mark Hamel, Ramsey Community Development Director Mark Banwart, Merland Otto of Hakanson Anderson Associates and myself on January 16, 1990. Mark Hamel's letter and our meeting focused on WCCO's interest in purchasing the former KANO radio station property (PIN 36-32-25-21-0006) for use as a stand-by radio transmission facility and their desire for assurances from the City of Ramsey that the use of and improvements to the property comply with Ramsey City Code Section 170.015H, Non Conforming Uses. At this time, I would like to review each of the points raised in Mark Hamel's letter of November 27, 1989 and provide City Staffs interpretation of them as it relates to our City Code and based on our meeting of January 16, 1990. That as a stand-by radio transmission facility, active broadcasting from it less frequently than every twelve months would not be construed as a discontinuance of the non- conforming use under paragraph 2 of Ramsey City Code Section 170.015H. Response: City Staff has determined that as long as the property is functionally equipped for transmissions, active broadcasting would not be considered a criteria for discontinuance of use. On the other hand, from the external appearance of the subject property, City Staff did have some concerns that there has already been a discontinuance of use for more than 12 months. Our concerns were alleviated by the affidavit from Peter L. Thorpe, dated February 12, 1990, a copy of which is attached hereto. Mr. Thorpe's affidavit makes it clear that the property remains the FCC-licensed main studio for KQQL and also serves as a potential back-up broadcasting facility. That replacement of underground radials would not be construed as other than normal maintenance under paragraph 4 of Ramsey City Code Section 170.0151-1. Response: City Staff has determined that replacement of underground radials qualifies as normal maintenance at a radio transmission facility.