Unlike macro facilities which are intended to provide wireless coverage over large areas, the goal of a small wireless deployment is to provide additional capacity in localized areas, including residential neighborhoods, using smaller antennas and equipment. The intent of this section is to describe the City's location options for small cell deployments and provide appropriate design standards to ensure that the negative visual impacts of wireless facilities are minimized, and the City's long-term goal of utility undergrounding is not frustrated.
A. Permitted Locations:
1. Small cell attachments to buildings are permitted in any zone and are not subject to the dispersion requirement below.
2. Dispersion Requirement: No two small wireless facilities shall be located within 300 lineal feet of each other as measured along the right-of-way line.
3. Installations in the Mixed-Use Town Center and Mixed-Use Town Center North zones shall be limited to building attachments or through the replacement or new installation of a street light designed to contain a small wireless facility that complies with the adopted architectural design review guidelines.
B. Location Options: Wireless providers shall attempt to site their small wireless communications services facilities pursuant to the following siting preferences (in descending order starting with the most preferred):
1. Outside The Right-of-Way / Private Property:
a. Roof-mounted on an existing building.
(1) Small cell facilities may be built to the maximum height of the underlying zone provided they are screened consistent with the existing building in terms of color, architectural style and materials.
(2) Such facilities must be concealed and well-integrated with the existing structure or designed and located to look like common rooftop elements such as chimneys, elevator penthouses or screened HVAC equipment.
(3) Height Exception: Antennas may be located on buildings that are nonconforming for height provided that, they are constructed to be no taller than the adjacent façade or an existing parapet. Equipment may be located on a roof behind a parapet that is nonconforming for height.
b. Façade-mounted on an existing building.
(1) Small cell antennas may be mounted to the side of a building if they do not interrupt and are integrated with the building's architectural theme.
(2) To the extent technically feasible, new architectural features such as columns, pilasters, corbels, or similar ornamentation that conceals the antennas should be used if it complements the architecture of the existing building.
(3) If concealment is not feasible, the antennas must be camouflaged. The smallest feasible mounting brackets must be used, and the antennas must be painted and textured to match the adjacent building surfaces, to the extent technically feasible.
(4) Facade-mounted antennas may encroach into a required setback. Antennas may not project into the right-of-way more than twelve inches (12”) and shall provide a minimum clearance height of twenty feet (20’) over any pedestrian or vehicular right-of-way.
(5) To the extent technically feasible, all other equipment must be located within the building, screened by an existing parapet, or completely concealed and well-integrated with the existing structure or designed and located to look like common rooftop elements such as chimneys, elevator penthouses or screened HVAC equipment. Exposed cabling/wiring is prohibited.
(6) Height Exception: Antennas may be located on buildings that are nonconforming for height provided that, they are constructed to be no taller than the adjacent façade or an existing parapet. Equipment may be located on a roof behind a parapet that is nonconforming for height
c. Freestanding Small Cell on Private Property:
(1) Dimensional Requirements:
(A) A freestanding small cell may not exceed fifty feet (50’) in height measured from the top of the foundation to the top of the cantenna/antenna.
(B) The cantenna/antenna must have a maximum outer diameter of 16 inches, to the extent technically feasible, and be tapered to transition from the upper pole.
(2) Appearance Requirements:
(A) All small cell carrier equipment must be housed internal to the equipment cabinet or hidden within the cantenna/antenna. The cantenna/antenna, upper pole and equipment cabinet must be the same color, unless otherwise approved by the City.
(B) All hardware connections shall be hidden from view.
(C) To the extent technically feasible, no equipment may be attached to the outside of the pole.
(D) The freestanding small cell pole must be served by underground power and fiber, if fiber is to be connected.
(E) May provide space for future collocation by another provider inside the same freestanding small cell pole facilities.
(3) Placement requirements. Freestanding small cells shall be located as follows, to the extent technically feasible:
(A) Located such that they in no way impede, obstruct, or hinder the usual pedestrian or vehicular travel, or violate applicable law.
(B) Outside the Residential Zones, Mixed-Use Town Center, and Mixed-Use Town Center North zones.
(C) Not to be located along the frontage of a Historic building, deemed historic on a federal, state, or local level.
(D) Not to significantly create a new obstruction to property sight lines.
(E) In alignment with existing trees, utility poles, and streetlights.
(F) With appropriate safety clearance from existing utilities.
(G) On the same side of the street as existing power lines, regardless of whether power is underground or overhead;
(H) No two (2) freestanding small cell poles may be located within 300 lineal feet of each other as measured along the right-of-way line.
2. Within The Right-Of-Way - Existing/Replaced Hollow Street Light Pole Or Utility Pole:
a. Installation of small wireless communications services facilities on street lights and utility poles shall comply with the requirements of Puget Sound Energy, as applicable.
b. Combination small cell and streetlight pole should be located where an existing streetlight pole can be utilized or removed and replaced with a pole that allows for small wireless facility installation in the same location.
c. Pole design shall match or be compatible with the aesthetics of existing streetlights installed adjacent to the pole. In the Mixed-Use Town Center and Mixed-Use Town Center North zones, poles designed to contain a small wireless facility shall comply with the adopted architectural design review guidelines.
d. A decorative transition shall be installed over the equipment cabinet upper bolts, or a decorative base cover shall be installed to match the equipment cabinet size.
e. An internal divider shall separate electrical wiring and fiber, per the pole owner.
f. Weatherproof grommets shall be integrated in the pole design to allow cable to exit the pole, for external shrouds, without water seeping into the pole.
g. For installations on existing street lights, the antenna shall either be fully concealed within the pole or placed on top of the pole. A cantenna/antenna on top of a pole shall be integrated into the pole design so that it appears as a continuation of the original pole, including colored or painted to match or be compatible with the pole. All cabling and mounting hardware/brackets from the bottom of the antenna to the top of the pole shall be fully concealed and integrated with the pole, to the extent technically feasible.
h. Street light pole shall be located as follows, to the extent technically feasible:
(1) In a manner that does not impede, obstruct, or hinder pedestrian or vehicular travel.
(A) In alignment with existing trees, utility poles, and streetlights.
(B) Within the street amenity zone wherever possible.
(C) Equal distance between trees when possible, with a minimum of fifteen-foot (15') separation such that no proposed disturbance shall occur within the critical root zone of any tree.
(D) With appropriate clearance from existing utilities.
(E) Outside the clear sight triangle, as determined by the City, at intersection corners.
(F) Ten feet (10') away from the intersection of an alley with a street.
(2) All conduit, cables, wires and fiber must be routed internally in the light pole.
3. Within The Right-Of-Way - Existing Single-Phase Power Pole (Installation On Top Of Pole):
a. Installation of small wireless communications services facilities on existing single-phase power poles shall comply with the requirements of Puget Sound Energy.
b. A cantenna/antenna on top of a pole shall be integrated into the pole design so that it appears as a continuation of the original pole, including colored or painted to match or be compatible with the pole. All cabling and mounting hardware/brackets from the bottom of the antenna to the top of the pole shall be fully concealed and integrated with the pole, to the extent technically feasible.
c. Equipment enclosures and all ancillary equipment and boxes shall be colored or painted to match the color of the surface of the pole in which they are attached. All related equipment shall not be mounted more than five inches (5") from the surface of the pole, unless a further distance is technically required, and is confirmed in writing by the pole owner.
d. All cables and wires shall be routed through conduit along the outside of the pole. The outside conduit shall be colored or painted to match or be compatible with the color of the surface of the pole. The number of conduit shall be minimized to the number technically necessary to accommodate a small wireless facility.
e. An existing power pole in a proposed location may be replaced with a taller pole for the purpose of accommodating a small wireless facility; provided, that the height of any replacement pole may not exceed fifty (50) feet to the top of the antenna(s), or the maximum height allowed by the definition of "small wireless facility", whichever is greater.
f. The replacement pole shall comply with the City's sidewalk clearance requirements and ADA requirements.
4. Within The Right-Of-Way - Freestanding Small Cell Pole Or New Street Light:
a. Refer to section 13-9-13, subsections (B)(1)(c) of this code for dimensional and appearance standards. Installation of small wireless communications services facilities on street lights shall comply with the requirements of Puget Sound Energy, as applicable.
b. New Street Light: The replacement street light pole requirements are also applicable to the new street light option, except that a street light would be incorporated into the design of the facility. In addition, the following applies, to the extent technically feasible:
(1) A street light shall not be installed unless it has been identified by the Public Works Director or designee that a street light is necessary at the location in which the small cell facility is proposed. A street light may be required to be installed instead of a freestanding pole.
(2) In the Mixed-Use Town Center and Mixed-Use Town Center North zones, poles designed to contain a small wireless facility shall comply with the adopted architectural design review guidelines.
c. Placement requirements for freestanding small cell poles. Freestanding small cell poles shall be located in compliance with the following, to the extent technically feasible:
(1) Located such that they in no way impede, obstruct, or hinder the usual pedestrian or vehicular travel, obstruct the legal access to or use of the public ROW, violate applicable law, violate or fail to substantially comply with public ROW design standards, specifications, or design district requirements, violate the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or in any way create a risk to public health, safety, or welfare.
(2) Outside the Mixed-Use Town Center and Mixed-Use Town Center North zones.
(3) Not to be located along the frontage of a historic building, deemed historic on a federal, state, or local level.
(4) Not to significantly create a new obstruction to property sight lines.
(5) In alignment with existing trees, utility poles, and streetlights.
(6) Within the street amenity zone wherever possible.
(7) Equal distance between trees when possible, with a minimum of 15-foot separation such that no proposed disturbance shall occur within the critical root zone of any tree.
(8) With appropriate clearance from existing utilities.
(9) Outside the clear sight triangle, as determined by the City, at intersection corners.
(10) Ten feet (10') away from the intersection of an alley with a street.
(11) On the same side of the street as existing power lines, regardless of whether power is underground or overhead;
(12) No two freestanding small cell poles may be located within 300 lineal feet of each other as measured along the right-of-way line.
5. Within The Right-Of-Way - Existing Power Pole (Installation Below Top Of Pole):
a. Installation of small wireless communications services facilities on existing power poles shall comply with the requirements of Puget Sound Energy.
b. Antennas should be placed in an effort to minimize visual clutter and obtrusiveness.
c. The inside edge of a side mounted canister antenna/equipment shroud shall be no more than twelve inches (12") from the surface of the pole.
d. Antennas and equipment located within a unified enclosure shall not exceed twenty eight (28) cubic feet. To the extent possible, the unified enclosure shall be placed so as to appear as an integrated part of the pole or behind banners or signs.
e. The unified enclosure may not be placed more than six inches (6") from the surface of the pole, unless a further distance is technically required and confirmed in writing by the pole owner.
f. Equipment enclosures and all ancillary equipment and boxes shall be colored or painted to match the color of the surface of the pole in which they are attached. All related equipment shall not be mounted more than six inches (6") from the surface of the pole, unless a further distance is technically required, and is confirmed in writing by the pole owner.
g. All cables and wires shall be routed through conduit along the outside of the pole. The outside conduit shall be colored or painted to match the color of the surface of the pole. The number of conduit shall be minimized to the number technically necessary to accommodate a small wireless facility.
h. An existing power pole in a proposed location may be replaced with a taller pole for the purpose of accommodating a small wireless facility; provided, that the height of any replacement pole may not extend more than ten feet (10') above the height of the existing pole, or the maximum height allowed by the definition of "small wireless facility," whichever is greater, unless a further height increase is required and confirmed in writing by the pole owner and that such height increase is the minimum extension possible to provide sufficient separation and/or clearance from electrical and wireline facilities.
i. The replacement pole shall comply with the City's sidewalk clearance requirements and ADA requirements.
6. Within The Right-Of-Way - Strand-Mounted:
a. Installation of small wireless communications services facilities mounted on cables strung between existing utility poles shall comply with the requirements of Puget Sound Energy.
b. Each strand mounted antenna shall not exceed three (3) cubic feet in volume.
c. Only two (2) strand mounted facilities are permitted between any two (2) existing poles.
d. The strand mounted devices shall be placed as close as possible to the nearest utility pole, in no event more than five feet (5') from the pole unless a greater distance is technically necessary or required for safety clearance and confirmed in writing by the pole owner.
e. No strand mounted device shall be located in or above the portion of the roadway open to vehicular traffic.
f. Ground mounted equipment to accommodate such strand mounted facilities is not permitted, except when placed in pre-existing equipment cabinets, underground or on zoned property or when required by another party, such as an electrical meter.
g. Pole mounted equipment enclosures and all ancillary equipment and boxes shall be colored or painted to match the color of the surface of the pole in which they are attached. All related equipment shall not be mounted more than six inches (6") from the surface of the pole, unless a further distance is technically required, and is confirmed in writing by the pole owner.
(1) All cables and wires shall be routed through conduit along the outside of the pole. The outside conduit shall be colored or painted to match the color of the surface of the pole. The number of conduit shall be minimized to the number technically necessary to accommodate a small cell wireless facility.
h. Such strand mounted devices must be installed with the minimum excess exterior cabling or wires (other than the original strand) necessary to meet the technological needs of the facility.
C. Location Preference Criteria: A proposed small wireless facility location shall only be allowed in a lower ranking location as provided in the location hierarchy in subsection B above, if the applicant can demonstrate that all higher-ranking locations are not technically feasible to locate the particular small wireless facility.
D. Small Wireless Facility General Standards:
1. Ground mounted equipment in the rights-of-way is prohibited, unless such facilities are placed underground, or the applicant can demonstrate that pole mounted or undergrounded equipment is technically infeasible. If ground mounted equipment is necessary, then the applicant must submit a plan of how the equipment will be concealed that is consistent with these standards. Generators located in the rights-of-way are prohibited.
2. No equipment shall be operated to produce noise in violation of Chapter 5-8 of this code.
3. Replacement poles, new poles, and all equipment shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), city construction and sidewalk clearance standards, and state and federal regulations in order to provide a clear and safe passage within the rights-of-way.
4. Replacement poles shall be located as near as possible to the existing pole with the requirement to remove the abandoned pole.
5. The design criteria as applicable to small wireless facilities described herein shall be considered concealment elements and such small cell facilities may only be expanded upon through an eligible facilities request described in section 13-9-8 of this code, when the modification does not defeat the concealment elements of the facility.
6. No signage, message, or identification other than the manufacturer's identification or identification required by governing law is allowed to be portrayed on any antenna, and any such signage on equipment enclosures shall be of the minimum amount possible to achieve the intended purpose; provided, that signs are permitted as concealment techniques where appropriate.
7. Antennas and related equipment may not be illuminated except for security reasons, required by a federal or state authority, or unless approved as part of a concealment element plan.
8. Side arm mounts for antennas or equipment are prohibited.
(Ord. 2019-1049, 9-25-2019)