30.28A.150 Personal wireless service facility design criteria.
(1) New personal wireless service facilities shall be designed to accommodate collocation in accordance with SCC 30.28A.080(3) unless the applicant demonstrates why such design is not feasible for economic, technical, or physical reasons.
(2) The applicant shall provide three-dimensional, visual simulation of the facilities or other appropriate graphics to demonstrate the visual impact on the view of the county’s foothills, mountains, open space areas, or other scenic resources within the county. Due considerations shall be given so that placement of personal wireless service facilities do not obstruct or diminish these views. In determining a significant visual impact on a view listed above, the department shall, at a minimum, consider the following:
(a) The degree to which the personal wireless service facility is screened by topographic features from the views listed above;
(b) Whether trees and vegetation can be preserved in a manner that would substantially limit the visibility of the proposed personal wireless service facility from the views listed above;
(c) Whether background features in the line of sight to the proposed personal wireless service facility would obscure it or make it more conspicuous;
(d) Whether the proposed design would reduce the silhouette of the portion of the personal wireless service facility extending above surrounding trees, landforms, or structures; and
(e) Whether the personal wireless service facility and auxiliary support equipment is designed to blend into the surroundings.
(3) Personal wireless service facilities shall be located and designed on the site to minimize aesthetic impacts on residential property. Personal wireless service shall be placed in locations on the personal wireless service facility site where the existing topography, vegetation, buildings, or other structures provide the greatest amount of screening in accordance with SCC 30.23.110(26). Setbacks shall be in accordance with SCC 30.23.110(26) or chapter 30.67 SCC if within shoreline jurisdiction.
(4) Personal wireless service facilities shall be architecturally compatible with the surrounding buildings and land uses in the zoning district or screened or otherwise integrated through location and design to blend in with the existing characteristics of the site to the greatest extent possible. Personal wireless service facilities shall have a color generally matching the building, surroundings, or background that minimize their visibility, unless the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires a different color. Muted colors, earth tones, and subdued colors shall be used wherever possible.
(5) No signals, lights, banners, signs, or similar materials shall be permitted on personal wireless service facilities unless required by the FCC, the FAA, or as required in SCC 30.28A.200. If the FCC or the FAA updates the requirements for lighting, the personal wireless service provider or personal wireless service facility owner is authorized to install the required lighting without any further county approvals.
(6) The applicant shall demonstrate that the antenna is no greater than the minimum height required to function satisfactorily. No personal wireless service facility that is taller than the maximum height specified in SCC 30.28A.160(2) shall be approved except as allowed by collocation.
(7) Security fencing no less than six feet in height with access through a locked gate shall be required around each tower and its auxiliary support equipment unless the entire personal wireless service facility lease area is fenced in a manner meeting these specifications, in which case the department may grant relief from this requirement.
(8) The parking requirements for personal wireless service facilities shall be in accordance with SCC 30.26.030. Alternate parking provisions may be approved by the approving authority when the applicant demonstrates vehicle parking is in proximity but may not be appropriate on the facility site.
(9) Site location and development shall preserve the preexisting character of the site as much as possible. Existing vegetation shall be preserved or improved, and disturbance of the existing topography of the site shall be minimized unless such disturbance would result in less visual impact of the site on the surrounding area.
(10) Personal wireless service facilities shall be constructed to the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) standards and all applicable construction and building codes. To ensure the structural integrity of base stations and towers, the owner of a structure or facility shall ensure that it is maintained in compliance with all applicable federal standards (i.e., FCC and FAA standards), state and local regulations, the applicable standards of the TIA, and the applicable building codes, and as amended.
(11) If, upon inspection, the county concludes that a personal wireless service facility, base station, or tower fails to comply with the standards, the applicable building codes, or constitutes a danger to persons or property, written notice will be provided to the owner of the structure or facility in accordance with chapter 30.85 SCC.
(12) Any improvements, modifications, or additions to existing personal wireless service facilities shall require submission of site plans, structural plans, and structural calculations stamped by a structural engineer registered or licensed in the state of Washington, which demonstrate compliance with the TIA standards and all other applicable building codes. The plans shall be submitted and reviewed at the time commercial building permits are requested. (Added by Amended Ord. 05-038, Nov. 30, 2005, Eff date Dec. 16, 2005; Amended by Ord. 18-011, Mar. 21, 2018, Eff date May 20, 2018).