Finding a site for the new Pirate Radio tower has proven to be far more difficult than either managers with the Coos Bay School District, or the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, had expected.

Following a series of phone calls and letters from Eastside residents opposed to proposed tower sites, the district and the port hosted a meeting last week to discuss three locations under consideration. Deputy Executive Director Mike Gaul said he hoped to gauge community support for site three, since sites one and two had raised so many issues with nearby property owners, before the issue goes to the port commission this week (see map).

Although Gaul assured Eastside residents it's common to see radio towers in residential areas, not everyone was convinced. Concerns were raised about tower access, the likelihood it could fall over and potential interference to cordless phones, television and Internet connections (see sidebar).

Tom Huntley, a property owner near site one, said he and his family are Marshfield graduates and big supporters of the schools, but he had reservations about the proposed sites. He and others also shared concerns about one that would place the tower in a potential development area. The port has been planning a housing or condominium development on the Eastside peninsula, but at the moment there is no movement on the project.

According to Joel Smallwood, district maintenance supervisor, there's probably no perfect compromise between impacting development or personal property.

“There are very limited places we can put this tower that we aren't in someone's backyard or in potential development areas,” he said. “We need an area that's 350 feet square and flat.”

According to Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray, the district considered multiple locations throughout the city before settling on the port's land, including property owned by the Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board, Coos Bay city property and district land in Eastside. The district selected the port's land due to a good line-of-sight with the high school, providing a good connection to the radio offices at the school and since the sites are close to sea level the tower will broadcast a stable AM signal, said district Business Manager Rod Danielson.

Under Federal Communications Commission regulations, KMHS must resume broadcasting at its previous strength within a year to avoid losing its broadcast license. The former tower toppled over last September, and to remain in full compliance the district is operating on an extension. If siting a tower continues to drag on indefinitely the district could lose its broadcast license, Smallwood said.

“One of the things we're trying to do is support the kids and the work we do at KMHS,” Gray said.

But seeing a radio tower go into the neighborhood isn't easy, Huntley said.

While Gaul wanted to focus on the suitability of site three, Huntley proposed a fourth site selected by Eastside residents. Site four is located at the junction of Coos River and the bay, on a peninsula with direct line of sight to the high school - but in an area that would directly interfere with any housing development by the port.

“Site four is in prime development land. It's directly on the berm out there,” Gaul said. “I won't recommend site four to my port commission.”

According to Smallwood, the best location for the tower is site one, but the district is willing to use site three if it's approved by the port commission. Although Huntley and a handful of residents didn't show significant support for site three, others at the meeting did.

Tammy Andrews reminded other residents that while the neighborhood is looking forward to future development in the area, losing programs at local schools won't attract people to Eastside.

“I have no problem with site three but I'd like to see a ‘no' on site one and two,” said Hank Davenport.

Abandoning sites one and two isn't on the table, Danielson said, as the district wants to keep as many options open as possible.

Regardless of the district or the port's OK, any or all of the potential sites could fail to meet the FCC's approval. The site would first have to be approved by the port and the Federal Aviation Administration, Smallwood said, before the FCC and Coos Bay Planning Commission can sign off.

“Without the port and the FAA, there's no reason for moving forward,” he added.

While several Eastside residents said the port should have spoken with them before approving any site, especially locations close to private property, Gaul assured them there will be plenty of opportunities for public input. The port and the district have been responding to concerns raised by residents, and once a site is selected the public will have a chance to participate in a hearing on the required zoning variance, he said.

The School District had hoped to get a new tower installed by Jan. 1, but the timetable may be getting short, Smallwood said.

In the meantime, Gaul said Executive Director Jeffrey Bishop plans to discuss all four sites with the port commission on Thursday, and invited concerned residents to attend the meeting at 7 p.m., at Coos Bay City Hall.