Smartphones and other mobile devices are being used more frequently and many use them to conduct business daily. Faster data speeds and an increasing number of applications has created a need for better coverage in the area.

But the current Kosciusko County ordinance governing the placement of communication towers, implemented in 2000, requires towers to be built no closer than six miles to an existing tower (excluding electric transmission towers) unless an exception is granted by the county board of zoning appeals. Companies are saying the six mile distance “is no longer doable,” said Matt Sandy, assistant planner for the county, while giving a report to the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission during its regular monthly meeting May 1 in Warsaw.

The 4G speeds some companies are offering now require better coverage, shorter cellphone towers and fiber optics are not working at a distance of more than a couple miles, at most, have combined to cause the county to take a look at revising the ordinance.

“We will look at revising the ordinance to make it more compatible with today’s standards,” Sandy said, noting in 2000 the need for communication towers was considerably less than it is today.

Though the ordinance requires a six-mile distance from an existing tower, some companies have chosen to share an existing tower, he said. But some surrounding counties have already revised their ordinances to lower the distance between towers to as little as two miles, Sandy noted.

Revising the ordinance is only in the consideration stage and it has not been discussed during previous APC meetings. Before it can be revised, a public hearing must held during an APC meeting, a vote taken, and then another public hearing at a county commissioners meeting where the final vote will be taken.

APC members discussed possible options during the May 1 meeting. Chuck Haffner, APC, asked if the county can look at cellphone towers as a source of special tax revenue. Sandy said he would need to research state laws to find an answer.

Lee Harman, chairman of the APC, said he feels ultimately the tower issue will boil down to the “not in my back yard” mentality where people don’t object to towers as long as they are not next door or on their own property. “But more people are depending on mobile devices to do business and people need to realize this,” he said.

Larry Coplen, APC, said the availability of broadband service is a key factor in whether or not some companies choose to stay in the local area. “And I know some companies have asked about broadband availability when considering to move here,” he added.

Harman and other planning commission members asked Sandy and Dan Richard, planning director, to see if any information can be obtained from local sources concerning projections of future use of cellphones. Haffner cautioned, though, the technology changes so fast by the time any report is obtained it will likely be outdated.

Another option to be considered is not requiring any minimum distance between towers and having the county BZA consider each request. Sandy said he will do more research and bring an updated report to the APC at a future meeting.

Also on the agenda, the APC unanimously approved re-platting five lots in the Greystone housing subdivision near Chapman Lake. The lots are located on the west side of Chapman Lake Drive in Plain Township.

Richard said the developer, Crooked Creek Development, wants to reduce the number of lots from five to three. Kevin Michael, an engineer representing the petitioner, said the developer wants bigger lots to build the homes on and also DNR is reducing the number of pier slips that can be issued and Greystone lost two slips.

Richard said the subdivision was originally approved in 2002 and the drainage plan was approved for five lots, so it would certainly work for three. Also, the roads are already in place.

APC meetings are held at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month in the commissioners room of the county courthouse, Warsaw, and are open to the public.