The Department of Planning and Natural Resources is submitting to the Legislature draft rules and regulations governing the erection of telecommunications towers in the territory. Until they’re approved, the moratorium on tower construction continues to be in place.
"We expect to submit the new rules and regs within the next 30 days," DPNR Commissioner Robert Mathes said in a recent statement.
The moratorium went into effect in December 2008, giving DPNR time to draft the document, which was aired in public hearings held over the summer in both districts. Included in the rules and regulations are required criteria for telecommunications facilities prior to issuance of a building permit and strict guidelines regarding application requirements.
Criteria include limits on structure elevation and distance from property lines, along with noise restriction, landscaping requirements and precautions to minimize the impact of the facility on wildlife habitat, among other things.
A copy of the draft document is available at www.planning.dpnr.gov.vi/documents/pubs.htm or can be viewed at DPNR’s offices at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, No. 45 Mars Hill on St. Croix and Starfish Market on St. John.
Residents can also call DPNR’s Division of Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning at 774-3320 or 773-1082.
