30.25.025 Personal wireless service facilities landscaping and screening.
The visual impacts of a personal wireless service facility shall be mitigated to the greatest extent possible through landscaping or other screening methods as follows:
(1) A minimum 20-foot wide Type A landscape screening area as set forth in SCC 30.25.017 shall be planted around the perimeter of the personal wireless service facility lease area except that:
(a) All trees shall be planted 10 feet on center in at least three offsetting rows; and
(b) All significant trees shall be retained in any Type A landscaping area when preservation of such trees does not pose a safety hazard, as determined by a certified arborist.
(2) The approving authority may permit a modified plan in accordance with SCC 30.25.040 that combines landscaping, existing vegetation, berming, topography, walls, decorative fences, or other features if they achieve the same degree of screening as Type A landscaping. If existing vegetation is used, a 20-foot Native Vegetation Retention Area (NVRA) shall be established and maintained for the life of the project around the outer face of the fenced area or the personal wireless service facility lease area, whichever is greater. All existing trees and vegetation shall be retained unless a report and clearing plan for removal and replacement is prepared by a certified arborist and the plan is approved by the department. The plan shall identify the trees and vegetation to be removed and explain the reason for removal. Trees removed shall be replaced with evergreen trees at a minimum ratio of two replacement trees for each tree removed. Replacement trees shall be a minimum of eight feet tall at the time of planting. The removal shall not diminish the intended screening effect.
(3) The approving authority may modify or waive landscaping requirements in accordance with SCC 30.25.040 when personal wireless service facilities are located on county-owned property, except for right-of-way.
(4) Perimeter landscaping is not required for towers located in industrial zones of the county except when the tower is located adjacent to residential zones listed in SCC 30.28A.120(7).
(5) The landscaping requirements of SCC 30.25.025 shall not be required for those portions of personal wireless service facilities locating on existing structures or within the limits of a road network element. (Added by Amended Ord. 05-038, Nov. 30, 2005, Eff date Dec. 16, 2005; Amended by Amended Ord. 08-101, Jan. 21, 2009, Eff date Apr. 21, 2009; Amended by Ord. 18-011, Mar. 21, 2018, Eff date May 20, 2018).