A. The City of Orting encourages wireless communication providers to use existing sites or more frequent, less noticeable sites instead of attempting to provide coverage through use of taller towers. To that end, applicants shall consider the following priority of preferred locations for wireless communications services facilities:
1. Co-location, without an increase in the height of the building, pole or structure upon which the facility would be located;
2. Co-location, where additional height is necessary above existing building, pole, or structure;
3. A replacement pole or structure for an existing one;
4. A new pole or structure altogether.
B. Co-location shall be encouraged for all wireless communications services facilities applications and is implemented through less complex permit procedures.
1. To the greatest extent technically feasible, applicants for new monopole facilities shall be required to build mounts capable of accommodating at least one other carrier.
2. New macro wireless communications services facilities that are not co-located will require a conditional use permit (C) under the provisions of section 13-6-2 of this code and shall be processed in accordance with Title 15 of this code for a Type III permit. Separation requirements will be a condition of approval.
C. Noise: Any facility that requires a generator or other device which will create noise audible beyond the boundaries of the site must demonstrate compliance with Chapter 5-8 of this code, Noise Control. A noise report, prepared by an acoustical engineer, shall be submitted with any application to construct and operate a wireless communications services facility that will have a generator or similar device.
The City may require that the report be reviewed by a third-party expert at the expense of the applicant.
D. Business License Requirement: Any person, corporation or entity that operates a wireless communications services facility within the City shall have a valid business license issued annually by the City. Any person, corporation or other business entity which owns a monopole also is required to obtain a business license on an annual basis.
E. Signage: Only safety signs or those mandated by a government entity with jurisdiction may be located on wireless communications services facilities. No other types of signs are permitted on wireless communications services facilities.
F. Any application must demonstrate that there is sufficient space for temporary parking for regular maintenance of the proposed facility.
G. Finish: A monopole may be constructed of laminated wood, fiberglass, steel, or similar material. The pole shall be a neutral color so as to reduce its visual obtrusiveness, subject to any applicable standards of the FAA or FCC.
H. Design: The design of all buildings and ancillary structures shall use materials, colors, textures, screening and landscaping that will blend the facilities with the natural setting and built environment. All macro towers must be approved by the Architectural Design Board.
I. Color: All antennas and ancillary facilities located on buildings or structures other than monopoles shall be of a neutral color that is identical to or closely compatible with the color of the supporting structure so as to make the antenna and ancillary facilities as visually unobtrusive as possible.
J. Lighting: Monopoles shall not be artificially lighted unless required by the FAA, FCC or other government entity with jurisdiction. If lighting is required and alternative lighting options are permitted, the City shall review the lighting alternatives and approve the design that would cause the least disturbance to the surrounding area. No strobe lighting of any type is permitted on any monopole, unless required by the FAA.
K. Advertising: No advertising is permitted at wireless communications services facilities sites or on any ancillary structure or facilities equipment enclosure.
L. Equipment Enclosure: Each applicant shall use the smallest equipment enclosure practical to contain the required equipment and a reserve for required co-location.
M. Radio Frequency Emissions Compliance: The applicant shall demonstrate that the project will not result in levels of radio frequency emissions that exceed FCC standards, including FCC Office of Engineering Technology (OET) Bulletin 65, Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, as amended.
N. Landscaping And Screening:
1. The visual impacts of wireless communications services facilities should be mitigated and softened through landscaping or other screening materials at the base of a monopole, facility equipment compound, equipment enclosures and ancillary structures. If the antenna is mounted flush on an existing building or camouflaged as part of the building and other equipment is housed inside an existing structure, no landscaping is required. The City may reduce or waive the standards for those sides of the wireless communications services facilities that are not in public view, when a combination of existing vegetation, topography, walls, decorative fences or other features achieve the same degree of screening as the required landscaping; in locations where the visual impact of the facility would be minimal; and in those locations where large wooded lots not capable of subdivision and natural growth around the property perimeter provide a sufficient buffer.
2. Landscaping shall be installed on the outside of fences. Existing vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable and may be used as a substitute for or as a supplement to landscaping or screening requirements. The following requirements apply:
a. A solid screen of evergreen trees or shrubs shall be placed around the perimeter of the equipment cabinet enclosure, except that a maximum ten-foot (10’) portion of the fence may remain without landscaping in order to provide access to the enclosure.
b. Landscaping area shall be a minimum of five feet (5’) in width around the perimeter of the enclosure.
c. Vegetation selected should be native and drought tolerant.
d. Landscaping shall be located so as not to create sight distance hazards or conflicts with other surrounding utilities.
3. When landscaping is used, the applicant shall submit a performance assurance pursuant to section 13-5-2 (H) of this code.
4. The use of chain link, plastic, or wire fencing is prohibited. Ornamental metal, stone, wood, or vinyl fencing materials are preferred.
(Ord. 2019-1049, 9-25-2019)