Chapter 20.50
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
Sections:
20.50.000 Purpose.
20.50.010 Development standards for micro facilities.
20.50.020 Development standards for mini facilities.
20.50.030 Development standards for macro facilities.
20.50.040 Development standards for monopole I.
20.50.050 Development standards for monopole II.
20.50.060 Development standards for lattice towers.
20.50.070 Additional conditional use permit criteria for monopole I, monopole II and lattice tower.
20.50.080 Exemption.
20.50.090 Obsolescence.
20.50.000 Purpose.
In addition to the general purposes of the comprehensive plan and the zoning ordinance, this chapter is included in the Community Development Code to provide for a wide range of locations and options for wireless communication providers while minimizing the unsightly characteristics associated with wireless communication facilities and to encourage creative approaches in locating wireless communication facilities which will blend in with the surroundings of such facilities. [Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
20.50.010 Development standards for micro facilities.
A. Micro facilities are permitted in all zones.
B. A micro facility shall be located on existing buildings, poles or other existing support structures. A micro facility may locate on buildings and structures; provided, that the interior wall or ceiling immediately adjacent to the facility is not designated residential space.
C. Antennas equal to or less than four feet in height (except omni-directional antennas which can be up to six feet in height) and with an area of not more than 580 square inches in the aggregate (e.g., one-foot diameter parabola or two-foot by one and one-half-foot panel as viewed from any one point) are exempt from the height limitation of the zone in which they are located. Structures which are nonconforming with respect to height may be used for the placement of omni-directional antennas providing they do not extend more than six feet above the existing structure. Placement of an antenna on a nonconforming structure shall not be considered to be an expansion of the nonconforming structure.
D. The micro facility shall be exempt from review by the architectural design board if the antenna and related components are the same color as the existing building, pole or support structure on which it is proposed to be located.
E. The shelter or cabinet used to house radio electronic equipment shall be contained wholly within a building or structure, or otherwise appropriately concealed, camouflaged or located underground.
F. In single-family residential (RS) zones, micro facilities for a specific wireless provider shall be separated by a distance equal to or greater than 1,320 linear feet from other micro facilities of the same wireless provider. [Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
20.50.020 Development standards for mini facilities.
A. Mini facilities are permitted in all zones except single-family residential (RS) zones.
B. The mini facility may be located on buildings and structures; provided, that the immediate interior wall or ceiling adjacent to the facility is not a designated residential space.
C. The mini facility shall be exempt from review by the architectural design board if the antenna and related components are the same color as the existing building, pole or support structure on which it is proposed to be located.
D. The shelter or cabinet used to house radio electronic equipment shall be contained wholly within a building or structure, or otherwise appropriately concealed, camouflaged or located underground.
E. Mini facilities shall comply with the height limitation specified for all zones except as follows: Omni-directional antennas may exceed the height limitation by 10 feet, or, in the case of nonconforming structures, the antennas may extend 10 feet above the existing structure. Panel antennas may exceed the height limitation if affixed to the side of an existing nonconforming building and blends in architecturally with the building. Placement of an antenna on a nonconforming structure shall not be considered to be an expansion of the nonconforming structure. [Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
20.50.030 Development standards for macro facilities.
A. Macro facilities are permitted in all zones except single-family residential (RS) zones.
B. Macro facilities may be located on buildings and structures; provided, that the immediate interior wall or ceiling adjacent to the facility is not a designated residential space.
C. The macro facility shall be exempt from review by the architectural design board if the antenna and related components are the same color as the existing building, pole or support structure on which it is proposed to be located.
D. The shelter or cabinet used to house radio electronic equipment shall be contained wholly within a building or structure, or otherwise appropriately concealed, camouflaged or located underground.
E. Macro facilities shall comply with the height limitation specified for all zones, except as follows: Omni-directional antennas may exceed the height limitation by 15 feet, or, in the case of nonconforming structures, the antennas may extend 15 feet above the existing
structure. Panel antennas may exceed the height limitation if affixed to the side of an existing building and architecturally blends in with the building. Placement of an antenna on a nonconforming structure shall not be considered to be an expansion of the nonconforming structure. [Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
20.50.040 Development standards for monopole I.
A. Monopole I facilities are only permitted in the general commercial (CG) zones shown on plate 5.
B. Monopole I facilities are permitted in business (BC, BD and BN) zones and certain public and open space sites (i.e., Woodway High School, Edmonds High School, and Five Corners Water Tank/Fire Station 6) with a conditional use permit.
C. Monopole I facilities are not permitted in residential zones (RS and RM), the commercial waterfront (CW), open space (OS), public (P) zones, except when expressly provided for in this chapter.
D. Antennas equal to or less than 15 feet in height or up to four inches in diameter may be a component of a monopole I facility. Antennas which extend above the wireless communications support structure shall not be calculated as part of the height of the monopole I wireless communications support structure. For example, the maximum height for a monopole I shall be 60 feet and the maximum height of antennas which may be installed on the support structure could be 15 feet, making the maximum permitted height of the support structure and antennas 75 feet (60 feet plus 15 feet).
E. Co-location on an existing support structure shall be permitted. Macro facilities are the largest wireless communication facilities allowed on monopole I.
F. The shelter or cabinet used to house radio electronics equipment and the associated cabling connecting the equipment shelter or cabinet to the monopole I facilities shall be concealed, camouflaged or placed underground. Monopole I facilities shall be subject to review by the architectural design board using the procedures and review criteria specified in Chapter 20.10 ECDC and this chapter.
G. Monopole I facilities shall be landscaped in conformance with Chapter 20.13 ECDC.
H. Monopole I facilities adjacent to a single-family zone shall be set back a distance equal to the height of the wireless communication support structure from the nearest single-family lot line. [Ord. 3628 § 5, 2007; Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
20.50.050 Development standards for monopole II.
A. Monopole II facilities are only permitted in the general commercial (CG) zones shown on plate 5; provided the wireless communications support structure shall be designed to accommodate two or more wireless communications facilities.
B. Monopole II facilities which exceed 150 feet in height or and located within 300 feet of a residential (RS or RM) zone or located in certain public and open space sites (i.e., Woodway High School, Edmonds High School, and Five Corners Water Tank/Fire Station 6) shall require a conditional use permit.
C. Monopole II facilities are not permitted in residential (RS and RM) zones, business (BC, BD and BN) zones, commercial waterfront (CW) zone, open space (OS) zone, and public (P) zone, except where expressly provided for in this chapter.
D. Co-location of wireless communication facilities on an existing support structure shall be permitted.
E. Macro facilities are the largest permitted wireless communication facilities allowed on a monopole II facility. Antennas which extend above the monopole II wireless communications support structure shall not be calculated as part of the height of the wireless communications support structure. For example, the maximum height for a monopole II facility shall be 150 feet and the maximum height of antennas which may be installed on the support structure could be 15 feet, making the maximum permitted height of the support structure and antennas 165 feet (150 feet plus 15 feet).
F. The shelter or cabinet used to house radio electronics equipment and the associated cabling connecting the equipment shelter or cabinet to the monopole II facility support structure shall be concealed, screened, camouflaged or placed underground. Monopole II facilities shall be subject to review by the architectural design board using the procedures and review criteria specified in Chapter 20.10 ECDC and this chapter.
G. Monopole II facilities shall be landscaped in conformance with Chapter 20.13 ECDC.
H. Monopole II facilities adjacent to a single-family zone shall be set back a distance equal to the height of the wireless communication support structure from the nearest single-family lot line. In any case, if the monopole II facility is within 300 feet of any residentially zoned (RS or RM) lot, a conditional use permit will be required.
I. Monopole II facilities shall be separated from each other by a distance equal or greater than 1,320 feet. [Ord. 3628 § 6, 2007; Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
20.50.060 Development standards for lattice towers.
A. Lattice towers are only permitted in the general commercial (CG) zones shown on plate 5; provided the wireless communications support structure is built to accommodate the location of two or more wireless communications facilities.
B. Lattice towers which exceed 150 feet in height or are located within 300 feet of a residential (RS or RM) zone or are located in certain public and open space sites (i.e., Woodway High School, Edmonds High School, and Five Corners Water Tank/Fire Station 6) shall require a conditional use permit.
C. Monopole II facilities are not permitted in residential (RS and RM) zones, business (BN, BD and BC) zones, commercial waterfront (CW) zone, open space (OS) zone and public (P) zone, except where expressly provided for in this chapter.
D. Co-location on an existing support structure shall be permitted without an additional conditional use permit; provided there is not substantial change to the existing support structure.
E. Macro facilities are the largest permitted wireless communication facilities allowed on a lattice tower. Antennas which extend above the lattice tower wireless communications support structure shall not be calculated as part of the height of the wireless communications support structure. For example, the maximum height (without a conditional use permit) for a lattice tower shall be 150 feet and the maximum height of antennas which may be installed on the support structure could be 15 feet, making the maximum permitted height of the support structure and antennas 165 feet (150 feet plus 15 feet).
F. The shelter or cabinet used to house radio electronics equipment and the associated cabling connecting the equipment shelter or cabinet to the lattice tower support structure shall be concealed, screened, camouflaged or placed underground. Lattice towers shall be subject to review by the architectural design board using the procedures and review criteria specified in Chapter 20.10 ECDC and this chapter.
G. Lattice towers shall be landscaped in conformance with Chapter 20.13 ECDC.
H. Lattice Towers adjacent to a single-family zone shall be set back a distance equal to or greater than the height of the wireless communication support structure from the nearest single-family lot line. In any case, if the lattice tower is within 300 feet of a single-family lot, a conditional use permit will be required.
I. Lattice towers shall be separated from each other by a distance equal or greater than 1,320 feet. [Ord. 3628 § 7, 2007; Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
20.50.070 Additional conditional use permit criteria for monopole I, monopole II and lattice tower.
In addition to the conditional use permit criteria specified in Chapter 20.05 ECDC, the following specific criteria shall be met before a conditional use permit can be granted:
A. Visual Impact. Antennas may not extend more than 15 feet above their supporting structure, monopole lattice tower, building or other structure.
1. Site location and development shall preserve the pre-existing character of the surrounding buildings and land uses and the zone district to the extent consistent with the function of the communications equipment. Wireless communication towers shall be integrated through location and design to blend in with the existing characteristics of the site to the extent practical. Existing on-site vegetation shall be preserved or improved, and disturbance of the existing topography shall be minimized, unless such disturbance would result in less visual impact of the site to the surrounding area.
2. Accessory equipment facilities used to house wireless communications equipment should be located within buildings or placed underground when possible. When they cannot be located in buildings, equipment shelters or cabinets shall be screened and landscaped in conformance with Chapter 20.12 ECDC.
B. Noise. No equipment shall be operated so as to produce noise in levels above 45 dB as measured from the nearest property line on which the attached wireless communication facility is located.
C. Other – Application and Conditional Use Criteria – FCC Pre-emption. In any proceeding regarding the issuance of a conditional use permit under the terms of this chapter, federal law prohibits consideration of environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent that the proposed facilities comply with the Federal Communications Commission regulations concerning such emission. [Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
20.50.080 Exemption.
The following are exempt from the requirement of a conditional use permit, and shall be considered a permitted use in all zones where wireless and attached wireless communications facilities are permitted: Minor modifications of existing wireless communications facilities and attached wireless communications facilities, whether emergency or routine, so long as there is little or no change in the visual appearance. Minor modifications are those modifications, including the addition of antennas, to conforming wireless and attached wireless communications facilities that meet the performance standards set forth in this chapter. [Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
20.50.090 Obsolescence.
A wireless communications facility or attached wireless communications facility shall be removed by the facility owner within six months of the date it ceases to be operational or if the facility falls into disrepair. [Ord. 3099 § 1, 1996].
Plate 1
Plate 4
