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(1) Applications will be reviewed based on the type of wireless communication facility requested to be permitted. Each wireless communication facility requires a specific type of project review as provided for in the table in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) Table.

Type of Permit Required Based on Type of Wireless Communication (WC) Facility(3)

Zoning

Type of WC Facility(3)

Residential

Commercial

Resource/Industrial

R-4, R-6, R-8, R-18

CC, GC, NC, TC, MC, MHO

M, I

Transmission tower collocation

Type 1

Type 1

Type 1

Adding antennas to an existing tower

Type 1 (1)

Type 1 (1)

Type 1 (1)

Utility pole collocation

Type 2

Type 2

Type 2

Concealed building attached

Type 2 (2)

Type 2 (2)

Type 1

Nonconcealed building attached

Type 2

Type 2

Type 1

New tower or height modification request

Type 3

Type 3

Type 3

Notes:

1 Provided, that the application qualifies as an eligible facilities request: If the application is not an eligible facilities request, it shall be a Type 2 review.

2An applicant may request to install a nonconcealed building-attached facility under CMC 18.70.110.

3In the event of uncertainty on the type of wireless facility, the Director shall have the authority to determine how a proposed facility is incorporated into Table 18.70.040(2) and the type of permit required.

(3) Priorities. The priorities for the type of wireless communication facility shall be based upon their placement in the table in subsection (2) of this section; the most desirable facilities are located toward the top of the table and the least desirable facilities toward the bottom. An application for a wireless communication facility shall follow the hierarchy provided in the table in subsection (2) of this section. For example, an applicant shall demonstrate, by engineering evidence, that collocation on an electrical transmission structure is not feasible before moving to a utility pole collocation, and so forth, with the last possible siting option being a new wireless communication facility tower or height modification request.

(4) Preferences. The City’s preferences for locating new wireless communications facilities are as follows:

(a) Place antennas on existing structures, such as buildings, wireless communication facility towers, water towers, utility poles, or electrical transmission structures.

(b) Place wireless communication facilities in nonresidentially zoned districts and on nonresidential property.

(c) Place wireless communication facilities on public property and on appropriate rights-of-way; provided, that no obligation is created herein for the City to allow the use of City property or public right-of-way for this purpose. The placement of personal wireless communication facilities on City-owned property and public right-of-way will be subject to other applicable sections of the Covington Municipal Code and review by other City departments. A wireless communication facility mounted to any City-owned property, utility pole, or other structure shall be removed if the City deems removal is necessary for the undergrounding of utilities, the sale, development, or redevelopment of City-owned property, or the demolition or alteration of a City-owned building or other structure. The wireless communication facility shall be removed at no expense to the City.

(5) Restrictions on Light Poles and Standards. Light poles located within the public rights-of-way are prohibited from use as a wireless communication facility or for the attachment of an antenna. This restriction does not apply to wooden utility poles that have a light standard attached.

(6) Application Procedure. The applicant shall submit a completed application in a form established by the Director along with the initial application fee as set forth in the City’s current fee resolution. The application shall contain such information as the Director may deem necessary or useful, and shall include:

(a) Type 1 Permit Requirements.

(i) A written description outlining the proposed project and an evaluation of how the proposal meets the City’s code requirements;

(ii) Applicants who are not the property owner of record of the land and/or structure on which a wireless communication facility is to be located are required to have the application co-signed by the property owner(s) and provide a signed statement by the property owner(s) and/or building or structure owner(s) (if different) authorizing the submittal of the application by the applicant;

(iii) Plan sets prepared by a design professional that include a vicinity map, site map, architectural elevations, method of attachment, proposed screening, location of proposed antennas, and all other information which accurately depicts the proposed project and existing conditions or as otherwise determined necessary by the Director;

(iv) Written statement from a radio frequency engineer that demonstrates that the facility meets Federal Communications Commission requirements for allowed radio frequency emissions;

(v) A vicinity map depicting the proposed extent of the service area;

(vi) Critical areas study and proposed mitigation (if required);

(vii) If an outdoor generator is proposed, a report prepared by an acoustical engineer demonstrating compliance with Chapter 8.20 CMC, Noise Control; and

(viii) SEPA application (if required).

(b) Type 2. The applicant shall submit all of the information required for a Type 1 application, plus the following:

(i) Photo simulations that depict the existing and proposed view of the proposed facility;

(ii) Data sheet depicting the materials, textures, and colors proposed for use;

(iii) Landscaping plan prepared by a Washington State-licensed landscape architect (if required);

(iv) Service coverage area map (radio frequency (RF) modeling);

(v) If the facility is located within a residential zone, a report from a radio frequency engineer explaining the need for the proposed wireless communication facility. Additionally, the applicant shall provide detailed discussions on why the wireless communication facility cannot be located within a commercial or industrial/resource zone; and

(vi) Mailing labels for all property owners and tenants/residents within 500 feet of the subject property.

(c) Type 3. The applicant shall submit all of the information required for Type 1 and Type 2 applications, plus the following:

(i) All information required for new towers under CMC 18.70.130 and 18.70.140;

(ii) All information required for a height modification or setback modification request under CMC 18.70.150 and 18.70.160 respectively (if applicable);

(iii) The radio frequency engineer report shall include a discussion of the information required under CMC 18.70.050(16). The report shall also explain why a tower must be used instead of any of the other location options outlined in the table in subsection (2) of this section;

(iv) Engineering plans for the proposed tower, including a letter of certification by a licensed engineer that the proposed height and equipment comply with the requirements of this chapter;

(v) Evidence that the tower has been designed to meet the minimum structural standards for wireless communication facilities for a minimum of three providers of voice, video, or data transmission services, including the applicant, and including a description of the number and types of antennas the tower can accommodate;

(vi) A graphic simulation showing the appearance of the proposed tower and ancillary structures and ancillary facilities from five points within the impacted vicinity. Such points are to be mutually agreed upon by the Director and applicant. All plans and photo simulations shall include the maximum build-out of the proposed facility; and

(vii) Evidence of compliance with Federal Aviation Administration standards for height and lighting and certificates of compliance from all affected agencies. (Ord. 03-19 § 3 (Exh. B); Ord. 09-12 § 1 (Exh. A))