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Small wireless facilities permitted in accordance with this article shall conform to the following design standards:

A. Small wireless facilities attached to existing or replacement nonwooden utility poles located inside and outside the right-of-way shall conform to the following design criteria:

1. Upon adoption of a city standard small wireless facility pole design(s) within the city’s engineering, design, and construction manual, an applicant shall first consider using or modifying the standard pole design to accommodate its small wireless facility without substantially changing the outward visual and aesthetic character of the design. The applicant, upon a showing that use or modification of the standard pole design is either technically or physically infeasible, or that the modified pole design will not comply with the city’s ADA, sidewalk clearance requirements and/or would violate electrical or other safety standards, may deviate from the adopted standard pole design and use the design standards as further described in subsections (A)(2) through (9) of this section.

2. The applicant shall minimize to the extent possible the antenna and equipment space and shall use the smallest enclosure technically necessary to fit the equipment and antennas. The antennas and equipment shall be located using the following methods:

a. Concealed Completely Within the Pole or Pole Base. Antennas and the associated equipment enclosures (including disconnect switches and other appurtenant devices) shall be fully concealed within the pole, unless such concealment is otherwise technically infeasible, or is incompatible with the pole design. If within the pole base, the base shall meet the ADA requirements and not impact the pedestrian access route. In addition, if the equipment enclosure is concealed completely within the pole or pole base, the equipment enclosure may not exceed twenty-eight cubic feet.

b. Underground in a Utility Vault. If located underground, the access lid to the equipment enclosure shall be located outside the footprint of any pedestrian curb ramp and shall have a nonskid surface meeting ADA requirement if located within an existing pedestrian access route. In addition, the associated equipment enclosures may not exceed twenty-eight cubic feet.

c. Located on a Pole. Antennas and the associated equipment enclosures (including disconnect switches and other appurtenant devices) shall conform to the following:

i. The antenna(s) shall be placed as close to the surface of the pole as possible, meaning that the interior edge may not be more than twelve inches off the surface of the pole, and only if such distance is necessary for antenna tilt and technical need. Each antenna may not exceed three cubic feet in volume.

ii. The equipment shall be placed as close to the surface of the pole as possible, but may not be more than six inches off the surface of the pole. The equipment must be placed in the smallest enclosure possible for the technical need of the small wireless facility. The equipment enclosure and all other wireless equipment associated with the utility pole, including wireless equipment associated with the antenna (including conduit) and any preexisting associated equipment on the pole, may not exceed twenty-eight cubic feet. Multiple equipment enclosures may be acceptable if designed to more closely integrate with the pole design and do not cumulatively exceed twenty-eight cubic feet. The applicant is encouraged to place the equipment enclosure behind any banners or road signs that may be on the pole; provided, that such location does not interfere with the operation of the banners or signs, or the operation of the small wireless facility.

iii. A unified enclosure housing both antenna and equipment shall be placed as close to the surface of the pole as possible, but the interior edge of the unified antenna and equipment enclosure shall not extend more than twelve inches off the pole if necessary for antenna tilt and technical need. The unified antenna and equipment enclosure shall be the smallest size technically necessary, but shall not exceed the dimensional requirements of subsection (A)(2)(c)(ii) of this section.

iv. To the extent possible, the equipment enclosures shall be placed so as to appear as an integrated part of the pole or behind banners or signs; provided, that such location does not interfere with the operation of the banners or signs, or the operation of the small wireless facility.

v. The applicant may place a side-mounted canister antenna, so long as the inside edge of the antenna is no more than six inches from the surface of the pole.

d. On Private Property. If located on private property, the applicant shall provide documentation establishing the lease or easement right and permission of the property owner to locate the small wireless facility on the private property. In addition, the associated equipment enclosures may not exceed twenty-eight cubic feet.

3. The furthest point of any equipment enclosure may not extend more than twenty-eight inches from the face of the pole. Any equipment or antenna enclosures shall meet WSDOT height clearance requirements. Applicants are encouraged to place the equipment enclosure as close to the antennas as physically and technically possible, unless such placement would cause a greater aesthetic impact.

4. All conduit, cables, wires and fiber shall be routed internally in the nonwooden pole. Full concealment of all conduit, cables, wires and fiber is required within mounting brackets, shrouds, canisters or sleeves if attaching to exterior antennas or equipment.

5. An antenna on top of an existing pole may not extend more than six feet above the height of the existing pole and the diameter may not exceed sixteen inches, measured at the top of the pole, unless the applicant can demonstrate that more space is technically necessary. The antennas and any extension shall be integrated into the pole design so that it appears as a continuation of the original pole, including colored or painted to match the pole, and shall be shrouded or screened to blend 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.

6. Any replacement pole shall substantially conform to the design of the pole it is replacing or the neighboring pole design standards utilized within the contiguous right-of-way.

7. The height of any replacement pole may not extend more than ten feet above the height of the existing pole or the minimum additional height necessary, whichever is less; provided, that the height of the replacement pole cannot be extended further by additional antenna height.

8. The diameter of a replacement pole shall comply with the city’s setback and sidewalk clearance requirements and shall, to the extent technically feasible, not be more than a twenty-five percent increase of the existing nonwooden pole measured at the base of the pole, unless additional diameter is needed in order to conceal equipment within the base of the pole, and shall comply with the requirements in subsection (E)(5) of this section.

9. The use of the pole for the siting of a small wireless facility shall be considered secondary to the primary function of the pole. If the primary function of a pole serving as the host site for a small wireless facility becomes unnecessary, the pole shall not be retained for the sole purpose of accommodating the small wireless facility and the small wireless facility and all associated equipment shall be removed.

B. Wooden Pole Design Standards. Small wireless facilities attached to wooden utility poles located inside or outside the right-of-way, and in public easements, shall conform to the following design criteria:

1. The wooden pole at the proposed location may be replaced with a taller pole for the purpose of accommodating a small wireless facility; provided, that the replacement pole shall not exceed a height that is a maximum of ten feet taller than the existing pole, unless a further height increase is required and confirmed in writing by the pole owner and that such height extension is the minimum extension possible to provide sufficient separation and/or clearance from electrical and wireline facilities.

2. A pole extender may be used instead of replacing an existing pole but may not increase the height of the existing pole by more than ten feet, 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. A “pole extender” as used herein is an object affixed between the pole and the antenna for the purpose of increasing the height of the antenna above the pole. The pole extender shall be painted to approximately match the color of the pole and shall substantially match the diameter of the pole measured at the top of the pole.

3. Replacement wooden poles shall either match the approximate color and materials of the replaced pole or shall be the standard new wooden pole used by the pole owner in the city.

4. Antennas, equipment enclosures, and all ancillary equipment, boxes and conduit shall be colored or painted to match the approximate color of the surface of the wooden pole on which they are attached.

5. The interior edge of an antenna shall not be mounted more than twelve inches from the surface of the wooden pole.

6. Antennas should be placed in an effort to minimize visual clutter and obtrusiveness. Multiple antennas are permitted on a wooden pole; provided, that each antenna enclosure shall not be more than three cubic feet in volume.

7. A canister antenna may be mounted on top of an existing wooden pole, which may not exceed the height requirements described in subsection (B)(1) of this section. A canister antenna mounted on the top of a wooden pole shall not exceed sixteen inches in diameter, measured at the top of the pole, and shall be colored or painted to match the pole. The canister antenna shall be placed to look as if it is an extension of the pole. In the alternative, the applicant may propose a side-mounted canister antenna, so long as the inside edge of the antenna is no more than twelve inches from the surface of the wooden pole. All cables shall be concealed either within the canister antenna or within a sleeve between the antenna and the wooden pole.

8. The furthest point of any antenna or equipment enclosure may not extend more than twenty-eight inches from the face of the pole. Any equipment or antenna enclosures shall meet WSDOT height clearance requirements. Applicants are encouraged to place the equipment enclosure as close to the antennas as physically and technically possible, unless such placement would cause a greater aesthetic impact.

9. An omni-directional antenna may be mounted on the top of an existing wooden pole, provided such antenna is no more than four feet in height and is mounted directly on the top of a pole or attached to a sleeve made to look like the exterior of the pole as close to the top of the pole as technically feasible. All cables shall be concealed within the sleeve between the bottom of the antenna and the mounting bracket.

10. All related equipment, including but not limited to ancillary equipment, radios, cables, associated shrouding, microwaves, and conduit which are mounted on wooden poles, shall not be mounted more than six inches from the surface of the pole, unless a further distance is technically required, and is confirmed in writing by the pole owner.

11. Equipment for small wireless facilities shall be attached to the wooden pole, unless otherwise permitted to be ground-mounted pursuant to subsection (E)(2) of this section. The equipment must be placed in the smallest enclosure possible for the intended purpose. The equipment enclosure and all other wireless equipment associated with the utility pole, including wireless equipment associated with the antenna and any pre-existing associated equipment on the pole, may not exceed twenty-eight cubic feet. Multiple equipment enclosures may be acceptable if designed to more closely integrate with the pole design and does not cumulatively exceed twenty-eight cubic feet. The applicant is encouraged to place the equipment enclosure behind any banners or road signs that may be on the pole; provided, that such location does not interfere with the operation of the banners or signs, or the small wireless facility.

12. A unified enclosure housing both antenna and equipment may be utilized and shall be placed as close to the surface of the pole as possible, but the interior edge of the unified antenna and equipment enclosure shall not extend more than twelve inches off the pole if necessary for antenna tilt and technical need. The unified enclosure shall be the smallest size technically necessary, but shall not exceed the dimensional requirements of subsection (B)(11) of this section. 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; provided, that such location does not interfere with the operation of the small wireless facility or operations of the banners or signs.

13. The visual effect of the small wireless facility on all other aspects of the appearance of the wooden pole shall be minimized to the greatest extent possible.

14. The small wireless facility shall be considered a secondary use to the primary use of the utility pole. If the primary use of a utility pole serving as the host site for a small wireless facility becomes unnecessary, the utility pole shall not be retained for the sole purpose of accommodating the small wireless facility and the small wireless facility and all associated equipment shall be removed.

15. The diameter of a replacement pole shall comply with the requirements listed in subsection (E)(6) of this section.

16. 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 pole. The number of conduits shall be minimized to the number technically necessary to accommodate the small wireless facility.

C. Small Wireless Facilities Attached to Existing Buildings. Small wireless facilities attached to existing buildings shall conform to the following design criteria:

1. Small wireless facilities may be mounted to the sides of a building if the antennas do not interrupt the building’s architectural theme.

2. The interruption of architectural lines or horizontal or vertical reveals is discouraged.

3. New architectural features such as columns, pilasters, corbels, or other ornamentation that conceals antennas may be used if it complements the architecture of the existing building.

4. Small wireless facilities shall utilize the smallest mounting brackets necessary in order to provide the smallest offset from the building.

5. Skirts or shrouds shall be utilized on the sides and bottoms of antennas in order to conceal mounting hardware, create a cleaner appearance, and minimize the visual impact of the antennas. Exposed cabling/wiring is prohibited.

6. Small wireless facilities shall be colored, painted and textured to match the adjacent building surfaces, to the extent technically feasible.

7. Small wireless facilities must meet the height requirement of the underlying zoning district.

8. Feed lines and coaxial cables shall be located below the parapet of the rooftop or otherwise concealed from view.

9. If a cabinet enclosure cannot be located within the building where the small wireless facilities will be located, then the city’s first preference is for the wireless telecommunication carrier to locate the equipment on the roof of the building. If the equipment can be screened by placing the equipment below the parapet walls, no additional screening is required. If screening is required, the proposed screening must be consistent with the existing building in terms of color, design, architectural style, and material. If the cabinet equipment cannot be located on the roof or within the building, then it shall be located underground consistent with subsection (E)(2) of this section.

D. Small Wireless Facilities Attached to Cables. Small wireless facilities mounted on cables strung between existing utility poles inside the right-of-way shall conform to the following standards:

1. Each strand-mounted facility shall not exceed three cubic feet in volume;

2. Only one strand-mounted facility is permitted per cable between any two existing poles;

3. The pole must be able to support the necessary load requirements of the strand-mounted facility;

4. The strand-mounted devices shall be placed as close as possible to the nearest utility pole, in no event more than five feet from the pole unless a greater distance is technically necessary or is required by the pole owner for safety clearance;

5. No strand-mounted device shall be located in or above the portion of the roadway open to vehicular traffic;

6. Ground-mounted equipment to accommodate a shared mounted facility is not permitted except when placed in preexisting equipment cabinets; and

7. Pole-mounted equipment shall comply with the requirements of subsections (D)(1) and (2) of this section.

8. Such strand-mounted devices shall be installed to cause the least visual impact and without excess exterior cabling or wires (other than the original strand).

9. Strand-mounted facilities are prohibited on nonwooden poles, unless the existing pole has preexisting communication wirelines.

E. General Requirements.

1. In the event power is later undergrounded in an area where small wireless communication facilities are located above ground on utility or light poles, the small wireless communication facilities shall be removed and may be replaced with a facility meeting the design standards for new poles in AMC 22.38.270.

2. Ground-mounted equipment in the right-of-way is prohibited, unless the applicant can demonstrate that pole-mounted, completely concealed within the pole, or undergrounded equipment is technically infeasible. If ground-mounted equipment is necessary, then the applicant shall submit a concealment element plan. Generators located in the right-of-way are prohibited.

3. Small wireless facilities are not permitted on traffic signal poles unless denial of the siting could be a prohibition or effective prohibition of the applicant’s ability to provide telecommunications service in violation of 47 USC §§ 253 and 332.

4. Replacement poles and new poles shall comply with the ADA, city construction and sidewalk clearance standards, city ordinance, and state and federal laws and regulations in order to provide a clear and safe passage within the right-of-way. Further, the location of any replacement or new pole shall: be physically possible, comply with applicable traffic warrants, not interfere with utility or safety fixtures (e.g., fire hydrants, traffic control devices), and not adversely affect the public welfare, health or safety.

5. Replacement poles shall be located no more than five feet from the existing pole with the requirement to remove the abandoned pole.

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 or equipment enclosure or on the pole. Any permitted signage shall be located either on the equipment enclosures or in the location required by law and be of the minimum size necessary to achieve the intended or required purpose (no larger than four by six inches unless required by law); provided, that signs are permitted as concealment element techniques where appropriate.

7. Antennas and related equipment shall 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 shall be the minimum extension necessary and the inside edge of the antenna may be no more than twelve inches from the surface of the pole.

9. The preferred location of a small wireless facility on a pole is the location with the least visual impact.

10. Antennas, equipment enclosures, and ancillary equipment, conduit and cable, shall not dominate the structure or pole upon which they are attached.

11. Except for locations in the right-of-way, small wireless facilities are prohibited on any property containing a residential use in the residential zones; provided, that where small wireless facilities are intended to be located more than four hundred feet from a right-of-way and within an access easement over residential property, the location may be allowed if: (a) the applicant affirms that they have received an access easement from property owner to locate the facility in the desired location, (b) the property owner where the facility will be installed has authority to grant such permission to locate the facility and related equipment at the designated location pursuant to the terms of the access easement, (c) that the installation is allowed by, and consistent with, the access easement, (d) that such installation will not frustrate the purpose of the easement or create any access or safety issue, and (e) shall be in compliance with all land use regulations such as, but not limited to, setback requirements.

12. The city may consider the cumulative visual effects of small wireless facilities mounted on poles within the right-of-way when assessing proposed siting locations so as to not adversely affect the visual character of the city. This provision shall not be applied to limit the number of permits issued when no alternative sites are reasonably available nor to impose a technological requirement on the applicant.

13. These design standards are intended to be used solely for the purpose of concealment and siting. Nothing herein shall be interpreted or applied in a manner which dictates the use of a particular technology. When strict application of these requirements would effectively prohibit the applicant from providing a wireless service, alternative forms of concealment or deployment may be permitted which provide similar or greater protections from negative visual impacts to the streetscape. (Ord. 1189-21 § 2 (Exh. A), 2021).