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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJ_ project description & code compliance statement_180329_v19725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 SEA MILL AVE – PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE Project: SEA MILL AVE- Verizon Project Location: 304 MAIN AVE S Parcel: 7231500720 Zoning: CD – CENTER DOWNTOWN Proposal: Verizon is proposing to construct an unmanned telecommunications facility on the rooftop of an existing two-story commercial office building. The antennas will be installed on the building façade, placed on low-profile mounts, and painted to match the building exterior. There will be four antenna installation points in total. The cabinets will be installed at ground level within a solid enclosure that is finished and painted to match the building exterior, with connection to the antennas via cabling installed in a covered exterior chase. All exterior-facing equipment will be painted to match the structure where it is attached. The initial antenna configuration will include four sectors with two antennas in each; a temporary microwave may be necessary for a short period at initial installation while fiber is being brought to the site. Each sector will have 6 remote radio units (RRU’s) and surge protection equipment, to be installed behind the parapet not visible from the street. The ground equipment will be housed in a 150 SF enclosed space. Current Use and Adjacent Properties: The subject property is presently used as a commercial office building and is surrounded by other commercial properties with the same “CD” zone designation. Directly to the north is the Veterans Memorial Park, and to the southeast is I-405 and the Cedar Ave overpass. Critical Areas: The Renton COR maps indicate the presence of regulated slopes on the parcel, in the southeast corner of the parking lot near the Cedar Ave ramp. The proposed project is not near any of the regulated slopes. All site construction will be limited to the footprint of the existing building and to existing impervious surface areas immediately adjacent to the building; no part of the project will extend into the area with regulated slopes. Access: The facility will be accessed via an existing driveway that opens onto Main Ave S., and via a roof hatch on the northwest side of the existing building. The ground equipment will be accessed via a gate in the fence enclosure. Both are depicted on A-1 and A-1.1 of the plans set. Topography and Terrain: RECEIVED 04/10/2018 amorganroth PLANNING DIVISION 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 The immediate vicinity where the site is proposed is west of I-405 and is relatively flat; the topography gradually rises towards the east of I-405. The subject property is landscaped with low-lying well- maintained vegetation and grass, but is otherwise fairly open and is mostly a parking lot. There are some taller trees on the SE portion of the property that abuts the I-405 right-of-way, as well as greenscape within the right-of-way. Distance to Residential: The approximate distance from the Rooftop WCF installation to a residential zone is just over 500 feet on the opposite side of the freeway. The estimate is taken from the approximate center of the building where the antennas will be installed to the approximate property line of the nearest Residential (R-8) parcel. 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF RMC 4-4-140 WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES: A. – C. The purposes, goals, applicability of provisions, and the authority of the City to review and approve/deny permits under this code are acknowledged by the applicant; the proposed facility has been designed with the intent to comply with the stated design standards and policy goals of this chapter. D. COLLOCATION REQUIRED: Response: Does not apply; no new structure is proposed, there are no existing towers to which to attach in the area, and the proposal is to install a new wireless facility on a rooftop (existing structure). E. ALTERATION OF EXISTING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY (WCF) SUPPORT STRUCTURES: Does not apply; there is no existing WCF support structure on-site or in the vicinity that is being modified. F. STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL TYPES OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES: 1. Equipment Shelters/Cabinets: a. Location: Equipment shelters and cabinets used to house related equipment should be located within buildings or placed underground, unless it is infeasible. However, in those cases where it can be demonstrated by the applicant that the equipment cannot be located in buildings or underground, equipment shelters or cabinets shall be screened to the Administrator’s satisfaction. b. Screening: Equipment shelters and cabinets shall be surrounded by a fifteen-foot (15') wide sight-obscuring landscape buffer along the outside perimeter of required security fencing with a minimum height that is no less than the height of the compound fence at any point; however, existing topography, vegetation and other site characteristics may provide relief from the scree ning 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 requirement. The required landscaped areas shall include an automated irrigation system, unless the applicant is able to justify an exception to this requirement to the Administrator’s satisfaction. Related equipment facilities located on the roof of any building need not be landscaped but shall be screened on all sides in a manner that complements and blends with the surroundings so as to be shielded from view. Related equipment facilities shall not be enclosed with exposed metal surfaces. (Ord. 5798, 4-25-2016) c. Size: The applicant shall provide documentation that the size of any equipment shelters or cabinets is the minimum necessary to meet the provider’s service needs. The area of the compound may be greater than is necessary in order to accommodate future collocations, but the area reserved for future equipment shelters/cabinets shall be the minimum necessary for the documented WCF capacity. (Ord. 5676, 12-3-2012) Response: The ground equipment will be installed within a solid wood ground enclosure integrated into the side of the building, with paint, siding and architectural finishes to match the building exterior. While this is not “in” the existing building as preferred under (a), this additional enclosure will be integrated into the building appearance in such a way as to appear that it is part of the structure. The cabinets and lines will be fully hidden within the enclosure; therefore, no further screening is proposed under (b) and no shelter is proposed as under (c). d. Generators: i. Architectural integration is required (if applicable). ii. To the extent feasible, generators shall be enclosed along with the related equipment. Similar to equipment shelters, the screening for the generator shall utilize similar building materials, colors, accents, and textures as the primary building; if no buildings exist on site, ensure that the building is designed to blend in with the environment. iii. A screening wall and/or landscaping material shall be required to mitigate visual impacts. iv. Fences shall be constructed of materials that complement and blend in with the surroundings. v. Anti-graffiti finish shall be applied to all solid fences, walls , and gates. 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 vi. A noise analysis shall be required to demonstrate that the generator will operate within allowed noise limits if the generator is the sole power source. Response: no permanent generator is proposed such that permanent screening is required. 2. Maximum Height: All wireless communication facilities shall comply with RMC 4-3-020, Airport Related Height and Use Restrictions. In addition, all wireless communication facilities shall comply with the height limitation of the applicable zoning district, except as follows: a. Monopole I: N/A b. Monopole II: N/A c. Stealth Towers: N/A d. Rooftop WCF: Concealed and/or camouflaged WCFs erected on a rooftop may extend up to sixteen feet (16') above the allowed zone height. e. Utility Poles: N/A Response: The proposed antennas will be attached to the façade of the structure and will not extend above the existing roofline. 3. Visual Impact: Site location and development shall preserve the pre-existing character of the surrounding buildings and landscape to the extent consistent with the function of the communications equipment. Towers shall be integrated through location and design to blend in with the existing characteristics of the site to the extent practical. Existing on-site vegetation shall be preserved or improved, and disturbance of the existing topography shall be minimized, unless such disturbance would result in less adverse visual impact to the surrounding area. Towers, antennas and related equipment shall be uniformly painted a non-reflective neutral color that best matches the colors within the immediately surrounding built and natural landscape in order to reduce the contrast be tween the WCF and the landscape. Response: The visual impact from this facility will be limited to antennas on the façade of the building, which will be painted to match the structure. The ground equipment enclosure will employ the same siding, paint, and architectural finishes as the existing building so as to appear integrated, and the open top of the enclosure will have a rail installed s o it will look like the 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 existing balcony features on the building. The only landscaping that will be removed or disturbed is part of a lawn, which can be replanted up to the edge of the new construction as needed. 4. Setbacks: Towers shall be set back from each property line by a distance equal to the tower height, unless an engineering analysis concludes that a reduced setback is safe for abutting properties and the Administrator determines that a reduced setback is appropriate for the site. Response: Does not apply; no new tower. 5. Maximum Noise Levels: No equipment shall be operated so as to produce noise in levels above forty five (45) decibels as measured from the nearest property line on which the wireless communication facility is located. Operation of a back-up power generator in the event of power failure or the testing of a back - up generator between eight o’clock (8:00) a.m. and nine o’clock (9:00) p.m. are exempt from this standard. No testing of back-up generators shall occur between the hours of nine o’clock (9:00) p.m. and eight o’clock (8:00) a.m. Response: The equipment cabinets will be located behind a solid enclosure attached to the street- facing side of the building and will not generate excess noise in the environment. No permanent generator will be installed. 6. Fencing: Security fencing shall be required and shall be painted or coated with a non-reflective neutral color. Fencing shall comply with the requirements listed in RMC 4-4-040, Fences, Hedges, and Retaining Walls. Response: The facility will be installed within a locked, ground-level enclosure. The enclosure will be finished to match the building and will be engineered/permitted as it will be over seven feet tall both for security and to scale with the building. Engineering plans will be supplied with the building permit application. 7. Lighting: Towers or antennas shall not be artificially lighted, unless required by the FAA or other applicable authority. If lighting is required, the Administrator may review the available lighting alternatives and approve the design that would cause the least disturbance to the surrounding views. Security lighting for the equipment shelters or cabinets and other on-the-ground ancillary equipment is also permitted, as long as it is appropriately down shielded to keep light within the boundaries of the compound. (Ord. 5675, 12-3-2012) Response: No exterior lighting is proposed. 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 8. Advertising Prohibited: No lettering, symbols, images, or trademarks large enough to be legible to occupants of vehicular traffic on any abutting roadway shall be placed on or affixed to any part of a WCF tower, antenna array or antenna, other than as required by FCC regulations regarding tower registration or other applicable law. Antenna arrays designed and approved to be located on or within signs or billboards as a stealth tower, or a concealed or camouflaged WCF, shall not be construed to be in violation of this prohibition. (Ord. 5676, 12-3-2012) Response: no commercial signage is proposed. The only signage at the site will be for site identification and emergency contact information, and will be posted at the access points to the facility and not visible to the road. 9. Building Standards: Support structures shall be constructed so as to meet or exceed the most recent Electronic Industries Association/Telecommunications Industries Association (EIA/TIA) 222 Revision G Standard entitled: “Structural Standards for Steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting Structures” (or equivalent), as it may be updated or amended. Prior to issuance of a building permit the Building Official shall be provided with an engineer’s certification that the support structure’s design meets or exceeds those standards. (Ord. 5675, 12-3-2012) Response: A structural analysis will be provided at the time of building permit application. 10. Radio Frequency Standards: The applicant shall ensure that the wireless communication facility (WCF) will not cause localized interference with the reception of area television or radio broadcasts. If the City finds that the WCF interferes with such reception, and if such interference is not remedied within thirty (30) calendar days, the City may revoke or modify a Building and/or Conditional Use Permit. (Ord. 5675, 12-3-2012) Response: Verizon will be operating within their FCC licensed frequencies, which are separate from local television and radio licensed frequencies. No interference is anticipated. G. CONCEALED WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY STANDARDS: Response: While the facility design follows the spirit and intent of the Concealed Facility standards to minimize visual impacts, it is not mounted on the rooftop and thus will be evaluated as a Camouflaged Facility. The rooftop was explored as an optional site design, but the rooftop structural capacity was not such that the parties were willing to risk the additional load, plus future loading in the event of a site expansion or modification. 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 H. CAMOUFLAGED WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY STANDARDS: Additions or modifications to buildings shall complement the existing design, bulk, scale, and symmetry of the building, and minimize the addition of bulk and clutter. Camouflaged WCFs shall adhere to the following standards: 1. Architectural Integration: Antennas may be mounted to the sides of a building if the antennas do not interrupt the building’s architectural theme. a. When feasible, camouflaged WCFs shall employ a symmetrical, balanced design for all facade mounted antennas. The first provider on a structure will dictate the antenna length, width, and placement. All succeeding applications will be required to ensure consistency and symmetry in placing antennas on the structure’s exterior. b. When feasible, interruption of architectural lines or horizontal or vertical reveals is prohibited. Response: The antennas will be mounted to the façade of the building on all four sides, flush- mounted to the extent feasible, and painted to match the building exterior, which is a medium brown. This design is compatible with the building’s appearance, which is linear and modern, with horizontal brown wood siding, olive textured areas around the large glass windows, and metal pipe handrails on the exterior patio areas. The building front features multilevel cubic and curve d facades, rather than a flat front. The sides of the building are also very geometric and broken up by windows and patios. The antennas fit with the overall geometric themes façade and are not out of scale; they are attached on the third level, immediately below the roof parapet, and will not extend above it. The lines to the antennas will be pulled as tightly as possible, and radio units installed behind the parapets to further reduce antenna stand -off and bulk. The ground equipment will be within an enclosure that is architecturally compatible with the building; it will be constructed to appear as another cubic feature on the building and be topped with the same handrail detail that features elsewhere on the structure. 2. Materials: a. Mounting Hardware: Utilize the smallest mounting brackets necessary in order to provide the smallest offset from the building. 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 b. Concealment: Utilize skirts or shrouds 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 is prohibited. c. Paint: Paint and texture antennas to match the adjacent building surfaces. Response: The mounting hardware will be the smallest possible to minimize antenna stand-off from the building. Some standoff must be maintained to tilt and turn the antennas to cover their intended areas, but it will be minimized as much as possible. Except where necessary to directly connect to the antennas, most of the lines and ancillary radio units will be located behind the parapet next to the antennas, which will reduce visibility. 3. Antennas: a. Antennas shall be no longer or wider than the facade on which they are proposed. b. When panel antennas are unscreened, they shall be mounted no more than twelve inches (12") from the building facade. c. No exposed mounting apparatus shall remain on a building facade without the associated antennas. Response: the antennas will be façade-mounted in compliance with the above. 4. Residential Buildings: Wireless communication facilities shall not be located on residential buildings except for multi-family structures constructed pursuant to the International Building Code as an occupancy group R-2, which may serve as a support structure if the interior wall or ceiling immediately abutting the facility is an unoccupied residential space (e.g., stairwells, elevator shafts, mechanical rooms, etc.). Response: Does not apply; the building is a commercial office building. I. STEALTH TOWER STANDARDS: Does not apply; no tower is proposed. J. APPLICATION SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS: 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 In addition to application materials and information required pursuant to RMC 4-8-120C, Table 4-8-120C – Land Use Permit Submittal Requirements, the following materials are the minimum required to complete a review of any W CF, other than an alteration pursuant to subsection E1 of this Section, Minor Alteration. Additional materials and information may be required. 1. Technical Analysis: a. Site Justification Letter: This report shall justify the need or requirement for the proposed WCF location and design. An analysis of other available sites shall be included as well as determination as to why these sites were not selected. Response: Analysis of the area and search area map are included. b. Justification Map: A map identifying the zoning districts, search area, alternative sites, the selected site, and all existing and approved WCFs within a one-half (1/2) mile radius. Response: the RF documentation includes a map of existing Verizon sites. Below is an inventory of existing WCF towers, view adjusted for ½ mile of the proposed site. 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 c. Coverage Map: Map(s) identifying the proposed target coverage that illustrate the coverage prior to and after the installation. Response: This information is included in the RF documentation. d. Noise Report: For projects proposed adjacent to residential uses when generators, air conditioning units, or other noise-generating devices are utilized. Response: No generator is proposed as part of this project. 2. Photo Simulations: Photo simulations shall be required with each plan set. The photo simulations shall illustrate the proposed WCF from at least four (4) vantage points and show the existing view (without the proposed WCF) and proposed view (with the proposed WCF) from each vantage point. Response: Included in application. 3. Method of Attachment/Cabling: Dimensioned details shall be provided of antennas and mounting hardware used to attach the antennas to the structure. Response: Details will be included on construction drawings. 4. Visual Mitigation: Any concealment/integration techniques proposed shall be fully explained, illustrated and detailed. Response: See photo-simulations. K. OBSOLESCENCE AND REMOVAL: 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98115 Any wireless communications facility that is no longer needed or is not operational shall be reported immediately by the service provider to the Administrator. Discontinued facilities or facilities that are in disrepair, as determined by the Administrator, shall be decommissioned and removed by the facility owner within six (6) months of the date it ceases to be operational, and the site shall be restored to its pre-existing condition. The Administrator may approve an extension of an additional six (6) months if good cause is demonstrated by the facility owner. (Ord. 5675, 12-3-2012) L. PERMIT LIMITATIONS: 1. Maintenance Required: The applicant shall maintain the WCF to standards that may be imposed by the City at the time of the granting of a permit. Such maintenance shall include, but shall not be limited to, maintenance of the paint, structural integrity and landscaping. If the applicant fails to maintain the facility, the City may undertake the maintenance at the expense of the applicant or terminate the permit, at its sole option. 2. Notice to City of Change of Operation of Facility: The applicant shall notify the Department of all changes in operation of the facility within sixty (60) calendar days of the change. (Ord. 4666, 6 -2-1997, Amd. Ord. 4689, 11-24-1997; Ord. 5675, 12-3-2012) M. MODIFICATIONS: The Administrator shall have the authority to modify the standards of this Section, subject to the provisions of RMC 4-9-250D, Modification Procedures. N. APPEALS: See RMC 4-8-110, Appeals. (Ord. 4722, 5-11-1998; Amd. Ord. 4963, 5-13-2002; Ord. 5746, 1-12-2015) Response: the above sections K-N are acknowledged by the Applicant as standard conditions.