17.61.020 General guidelines and permit requirements for wireless communications facilities except small wireless facilities.
A. General Guidelines. The development standards in this chapter address setback and other site-specific location factors. Siting criteria for all communication facilities are necessary to encourage siting in the most appropriate locations based upon land use compatibility, neighborhood characteristics and aesthetic considerations. See Chapter 12.22 GHMC for small wireless siting requirements and GHMC 17.61.035 et seq. for the aesthetic, design and concealment standards relating to small wireless deployments.
B. Priority of Locations. The order of priorities for locating new wireless service facilities shall be as follows:
1. Place antennas and towers on public property, if practical.
2. Repealed by Ord. 1419.
3. Place antennas and towers in employment zoned districts.
4. Place antennas and towers in districts (in descending order of preference: commercial districts, public institutional districts, and downtown business districts) which do not adjoin or adversely impact residential or waterfront districts.
5. Place antennas and towers on other nonresidential property.
6. Place antennas and towers in the city multifamily zoned areas.
7. Place antennas and towers in multifamily residential structures exceeding 30 feet in height.
8. Place antennas and towers in residential and waterfront districts only if (a) locations are not available on existing structures or in nonresidential districts; and (b) only on or in existing churches, parks, schools, utility facilities or other appropriate public facilities.
C. General Requirements for Colocation. For new antenna and wireless communications facilities, other than small wireless facilities permitted pursuant to Chapter 12.22 GHMC, colocation on existing towers and wireless support structures is preferred. Where colocation has been demonstrated to be impracticable, new towers are most appropriately located as stated in the order of preference in subsection B of this section. Communication facilities being colocated shall comply with all applicable development standards of this chapter.
Colocation on existing support structures is encouraged by a simplified permit procedure. Attachment of antennas to existing nonresidential structures and buildings primarily within business parks, employment districts and commercial districts is preferable to installation of new wireless support structures, broadcast and relay towers or monopoles. The city may request that the applicant perform feasibility studies associated with applications for communications facilities in order to demonstrate that locations on existing structures have been explored as the preferred siting alternative, or that a conditional use permit or a variance from the development standards in this chapter, as requested by the applicant, is necessary in order to provide wireless communications, television, radio or other broadcast services.
If the city requests such a feasibility study of an applicant, the study shall demonstrate:
1. That the applicant has: (a) contacted the owners of structures in excess of 30 feet within a one-quarter-mile radius of the proposed site and from which a location standpoint could provide part of a network for transmission of signals; (b) asked for permission to install the antenna on those structures; and (c) received a denial of permission to install the antenna on those structures, together with the reason for such denial.
The information submitted by the applicant shall include (1) a map of the area to be served by the tower or antenna; (2) its relationship to other cell sites in the applicant’s network; and (3) an evaluation of existing buildings taller than 30 feet, within one-quarter mile of the proposed tower or antenna which from a location standpoint could provide part of a network to provide transmission of signals.
In addition to the above, an applicant desiring to locate a new antenna support structure in a residential or waterfront district shall demonstrate that a diligent effort has been made to locate the proposed communications facilities on a government facility, a private institutional structure, or other appropriate existing structures within a nonresidential zone, and that due to valid considerations including physical constraints, and economic or technological feasibility, no appropriate location is available.
D. Permit Processing Requirements for Communications Facilities, Other than Small Wireless Facilities.
1. Permit Type.
a. Colocation. Colocation shall be processed as a Type I permit.
b. Small Satellite Dish Antenna. Small satellite dish antennas shall comply with all International Building Code requirements, and Chapter 15.06 GHMC, but are otherwise exempt from the permit application procedures of GHMC Title 19.
c. Large Satellite Dish Antenna. Large satellite dish antennas and other antenna applications shall be processed as a Type I permit. A building permit shall also be required.
d. Amateur Radio Towers. Amateur radio tower applications shall be processed as a Type I permit. A building permit shall also be required.
e. Wireless Communication Facilities, Other than Small Wireless Facilities. A conditional use permit shall be required for wireless communication facilities in residential, waterfront district and downtown business districts, which shall be processed as a Type III permit. For all other districts, wireless communication facilities shall be processed as a Type II permit. A building permit shall also be required.
f. Broadcast and Relay Towers. Broadcast and relay tower applications shall be processed as a Type I permit. A building permit shall also be required.
g. Eligible facilities requests are governed by process outlined in GHMC 17.61.060.
2. Elements of a Complete Application. A complete application for the permits described in subsection (D)(1) of this section shall consist of an original of the following:
a. A site plan, drawn at a scale not less than one inch per 50 feet, showing the boundaries and dimensions of the parcel or site, including any adjacent public streets or easements.
b. An elevation of the proposed facility, including any buildings, existing or proposed, associated with the facility, and which shall include all dimensions of proposed structures.
c. A topographic map, based upon the most recent site survey or information available, at no less than five-foot contour intervals.
d. The required application fee as established pursuant to Chapter 3.40 GHMC.
e. Three copies of the original of the application.
f. A signed statement indicating that (i) the applicant and landowner agree that they will diligently negotiate in good faith to facilitate colocation of additional personal wireless service facilities by other providers on the applicant’s structure or within the same site location and (ii) the applicant and/or landlord agree to remove the facility within 12 months after abandonment.
g. Copies of any environmental documents required by any federal agency. These shall include the environmental assessment required by FCC Para. 1.1307 or, in the event that an FCC environmental assessment is not required, a statement that describes the specific factors that obviate the requirement for an environmental assessment.
h. A current map and aerial photograph showing the location of the proposed tower, a map showing the locations and service areas of other wireless service facilities operated by the applicant and those proposed by the applicant that are close enough to impact service within the city.
i. A statement by the applicant as to whether construction of the tower will accommodate colocation of additional facilities or antennas for future users.
3. A complete application for a conditional use permit shall, in addition to the elements described in this section, include those elements as described in GHMC 17.96.050(B) through (D). (Ord. 1419 § 3, 2019; Ord. 1245 § 15, 2012; Ord. 1197 § 32, 2010; Ord. 771 § 12, 1997).