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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPN_Project Narrative_Verizon COW_210310_v1.pdfPROJECT NARRATIVE 1 PROJECT NARRATIVE FOR TEMPORARY USE PERMIT FOR A TEMPORARY WIRELESS FACILITY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTER 1300 Bronson Way. Renton WA 98057 SITE HISTORY AND PROGRESS- The applicant, Kim Allen of Wireless Policy Group on behalf of Verizon Wireless, is requesting a Tier 2 Temporary Use Permit, pursuant to Renton Municipal Code Section 4-9-240, to allow for the continued use of the site at 111 Meadow Ave N for a temporary wireless facility ("cell on wheels" or "COW"). Verizon is requesting a new Temporary Use Permit ("TUP") following the expiration of LUA19-000314. A copy of the previous approval is attached. The permanent wireless site for the existing temporary facility is planned for the roof of the soon-to-be redeveloped Bryant Motors building. Rooftop antennas on two corners of the roof are planned with screening to minimize visibility. In December, 2019, the Hearing Examiner granted a conditional use permit with conditions to renovate the existing building, including the addition of a second story. A copy is attached. In August, 2020, a minor modification of the approval was granted that eliminated the addition of a second story and downsized the project significantly. A copy is attached. This remodel required that the plans be revised along with the design of the permanent wireless facility. Verizon has been working with the building architect to finalize a design. Permitting for the building remodel and construction have been significantly delayed by the global pandemic, business and municipal closures and slow downs, and the stay at home orders imposed by the Governor. Verizon can not move forward with the permanent site until the property owner is ready to build. Despite the challenging obstacles, the following progress has ensued since the approval in 2020: •The lease is about 90% finalized to have the permanent wireless facility on the building, with only a few business terms outstanding before finalization. •The building owner had hoped to have started construction on remodeling their building but is still awaiting permits from the city of Renton. •Verizon is working with the Owner's Architect on Photo simulations and equipment room design to finalize its Zoning Drawings for submittal to City of Renton. Verizon 2 is working with the owner's team and Verizon RF engineers on the final number of antennas and location of RF Screening structures (Final Design). See attached Preliminary Photosims for Permanent Facility. •Verizon is planning to have Zoning Drawings and final design approved internally by the end of March, 2021 and the Zoning Application for the permanent wireless facility submitted to the city in April, 2021. •Verizon hopes to obtain Zoning Approval from the City of Renton by October of 2021, with building permits approved by Feb. 2022. •Verizon's goal is construction completed by May 2022. The new TUP is needed to allow additional time to finalize this permanent solution for this site so that Verizon customers served by this temporary site won't lose the service they depend upon in their daily lives. With the continuing pandemic, robust and reliable wireless networks are more important than ever to families and businesses that find themselves working from home and relying on the wireless network for virtual meetings, online learning, telemedicine and ordering goods and services. First responders rely on the wireless network to process calls and transmit data in real time. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The 14,454 square foot property is located in the Commercial Arterial ( CA) zoning designation. The COW would remain in its current location at the SE corner of the vacant property, which is fenced for security. The base of the temporary structure is approximately 6' x 14' in size. The total leased area is approximately 30' x 40'. The COW mast holds three panel antennas and a microwave antenna, with a total maximum height of 35 feet. Three ecology blocks are attached to the COW using guy lines to increase stability. A copy of the zoning drawings and site photographs are attached. Vegetative screening was required as a condition of the original Temporary Use Permit approved for the structure, is now required by code, has been planted, and will be maintained going forward. The applicant is proposing the use of a generator only for emergency situations or events. See Photos. The site is located within the Wellhead Protection Area Zone 1 and High Seismic Hazard Area. No other critical areas are located on site and no ground disturbance activity is proposed. The COW project is on property located in the Commercial Arterial (CA) zone. The adjacent zoning is CA to the East, North, and West, with RIO zoning to the North. There are currently a row of Arborvitaes that separate the subject CA property and the adjacent property that serve as a visual buffer to the base of the COW. There are several taller power poles with equipment and transformers and taller trees in the area, and ballfield light standards at the City ballfield across Bronson which are the approximate height or taller than the COW mast. See Photos. 3 DECISION CRITERIA 4-4-140 WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES K.TEMPORARY WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES STANDARDS: The proposed COW is subject to the Temporary Wireless Communications Facilities Standards in RMC 4-4-140 K. 1. Location: a. Temporary wireless communication facilities shall be located no closer than seventy five feet (75') from the property line of a property that is adjacent, abutting, or diagonal to a property with a residential use. b. No space or spaces needed to meet the required parking standards for a development site shall be taken by the placement of temporary wireless communication facilities. c. Temporary wireless communication facilities shall not be located in the R-1, R-4, R-6, R- 8, or R-10 zone. Applicant Response: The site of the existing COW is not abutting, adjacent, or diagonal to a property with a residential use. The COW is not located in a parking space needed to meet the parking standards for the site and is located on a parcel in the Commercial Arterial (CA) zone. Therefore, the facility complies with the location requirements for Temporary Wireless Communication Facilities. See Construction Drawings. 2.Size: Temporary wireless communication facilities are permitted on tandem axel utility trailers with a maximum width of ten feet (10') and length of twenty four feet (24'), or other support structure as approved by the Administrator. Applicant Response: The COW support structure is approximately 6 feet by 14 feet and is therefore compliant with the size requirement for Temporary Wireless Communications Facilities. See Construction Drawings . 3.Screening: A six-foot (6') high sight-obscuring fence, vegetative screen, or alternative visual buffer approved by the Administrator shall be constructed around the perimeter of the utility trailer and/ or any other ground equipment associated with the temporary wireless communication facility. Applicant Response: An existing vegetative screen is located around the COW. Existing vegetation includes approximately 11 six-foot plus tall arborvitae shrubs in planters with an automatic watering system on both the north and south side of the site. The COW is screened on the east side facing Meadow Ave N by existing 10-foot tall arborvitae shrubs planted in the right- of-way. A sight- obscuring fence is located around the entire perimeter of the facility between the vegetative buffer and the base. The COW complies with the screening requirement for Temporary Wireless Communication Facility. See Photos. 4.Power Source: a.Use of on-site utility services is required for primary power. b.In the event of an emergency or power outage, a whisper quiet generator or other utility source may be used that emits an average noise level, measured at the property line, that does not exceed fifty five (55) decibels day-night level when measured on an “a weighted” sound level 4 meter, according to the procedures of the Environmental Protection Agency, unless otherwise approved by the Administrator. Applicant Response: The existing COW currently receives power from an overhead connection to a PSE electric pole in the Meadow Ave N right-of-way. A generator is located near the COW for use only during emergency events. The COW is compliant with the power source requirements for Temporary Wireless Communication Facilities. A copy of the RF Justification and Noise Study are attached. 5.Permits: An approved Tier 2 temporary use permit is required for all temporary wireless communications facilities. Applicant Response: Acknowledged. 6. WCF Installation/Repairs: A temporary use permit issued for the use of a temporary wireless communication facility during the installation of a new WCF or while repairs are being done on an existing WCF shall comply with the standards contained above and with the following: a. The approval shall not exceed a length of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days (excluding installation and removal). b. There shall be no more than one temporary use permit issued for the use of a temporary wireless communication facility per site each calendar year. c. Two (2) extensions of the original temporary use permit of up to one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days (excluding installation and removal) per extension may be approved by the Administrator upon a showing that the proposed installation or repairs are actively progressing. Applicant Response: Acknowledged. CONCLUSION Verizon has met all of the criteria for a temporary use and has justified its request for new temporary use permit to continue providing the existing wireless coverage until the building construction is complete. The site is in compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Installing a Temporary Cell on Wheels at this location has allowed Verizon to maintain adequate wireless services to the community on a temporary basis while Verizon completes a permanent site solution to improve the Verizon Network performance long term within the City of Renton. The demand on the network has only increased as Renton continues to grow and the pandemic has dramatically changed the way people work, access school environments and services. The COW is adding vitally needed capacity to the existing Verizon service area which historically has suffered enormous congestion problems, especially in the peak periods. Denial of the requested extension would result in this facility being taken off air, which will result in a diminished level of service for residents, businesses and first responders. 5 Verizon acknowledges that the COW has been in place much longer than originally anticipated because construction cannot move forward for the permanent rooftop installation until the remodeling work on the roof and the interior equipment room is completed by the property owner. The COW is not out of character with other utility infrastructure in the neighborhood and has been landscaped and maintained to minimize its visual impact. Finally, the longer presence of this temporary use is not inconsistent with 5 year extensions for other types of temporary uses allowed under the code. See Renton Municipal Code 4-9-240(3). Extension Requests for all Other Uses. Verizon respectfully requests that the Administrator grant the request for a temporary use permit.