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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPre-app Mtg Summary - 23-000022.pdf1 PRE-APPLICATION MEETING FOR Dish Wireless Communications Facility PRE23-000022 CITY OF RENTON Department of Community & Economic Development Planning Division February 16, 2023 Contact Information: Planner: Alex Morganroth, 425-430-7219, amorganroth@rentonwa.gov Public Works Plan Reviewer: Scott Warlick, 425-430-7216, swarlick@rentonwa.gov Fire Prevention Reviewer: Corey Thomas, 425-276-9582, cthomas@rentonrfa.org Building Official: Rob Shuey, 425-430-7290, rshuey@rentonwa.gov Please retain this packet throughout the course of your project as a reference. Consider giving copies of it to any engineers, architects, and contractors who work on the project. You will need to submit a copy of this packet when you apply for land use and/or environmental permits. Pre-screening: When you have the project application ready for submittal, call and schedule an appointment with the project manager to have it pre-screened before making all of the required copies. The pre-application meeting is informal and non-binding. The comments provided on the proposal are based on the codes and policies in effect at the time of review. The applicant is cautioned that the development regulations are regularly amended and the proposal will be formally reviewed under the regulations in effect at the time of project submittal. The information contained in this summary is subject to modification and/or concurrence by official decision-makers (e.g., Hearing Examiner, Planning Director, Development Services Director, Department of Community & Economic Development Administrator, Public Works Administrator and City Council). 2 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT M E M O R A N D U M DATE: February 9th, 2023 TO: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner FROM: Scott Warlick, Engineer III SUBJECT: DISH Wireless - SESEA00218E 207 Main Ave S PRE23-000022 NOTE: The applicant is cautioned that information contained in this summary is preliminary and non-binding and may be subject to modification and/or concurrence by official City decision-makers. Review comments may also need to be revised based on site planning and other design changes required by City staff or made by the applicant. I have completed a preliminary review for the above-referenced proposal located at parcel(s) 7231501245. The following comments are based on the pre-application submittal made to the City of Renton by the applicant. FRANCHISE COMMENTS 1. If Dish Wireless needs to access equipment within the city right of way, a franchise permit will be required. General Comments 1. If frontage improvements are required, all existing and proposed utility lines (i.e. electrical, phone, and cable services, etc.) along property frontage or within the site must be underground as outlined in RMC 4-6-090 – UTILITY LINES - UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION. The construction of these franchise utilities must be inspected and approved by a City of Renton inspector. 2. Maximum exposed retaining wall height is 6-ft and shall be setback a minimum of 3-ft from the right-of-way as outlined in RMC 4-4-040 – Fences, Hedges and Retaining Walls. 3. Adequate separation between utilities as well as other features shall be provided in accordance with code requirements. a. 7-ft minimum horizontal and 1-ft vertical separation between storm and other utilities is required with the exception of water lines which require 10-ft horizontal and 1.5-ft vertical. b. The stormwater line should be minimum 5-feet away from any other structure or wall or building. c. Trench of any utility should not be in the zone of influence of the retaining wall or of the building. 4. All construction utility permits for utility and street improvements will require separate plan submittals. All utility plans shall confirm to the Renton Drafting Standards. A licensed Civil Engineer shall prepare the civil plans. Please visit the Development Engineering Forms page for the most up-to-date plan submittal requirements: https://rentonwa.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=7922741&pageId=968701 5. A landscaping plan shall be included with the civil plan submittal. Each plan shall be on separate sheets. 6. Fees quoted in this document reflect the fees applicable in the year 2023 only and will be assessed based on the fee that is current at the time of the permit application or issuance, as applicable to the permit type. Please visit www.rentonwa.gov for the current development fee schedule. 3 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT M E M O R A N D U M DATE: February 16, 2023 TO: Pre-Application File No. 23-000022 FROM: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner SUBJECT: DISH Wireless Communications Facility 207 Main Ave S (APN 7231501245) General: We have completed a preliminary review of the pre-application for the above-referenced development proposal. The following comments on development and permitting issues are based on the pre-application submittals made to the City of Renton by the applicant and the codes in effect on the date of review. The applicant is cautioned that information contained in this summary may be subject to modification and/or concurrence by official decision-makers (e.g., Hearing Examiner, Community & Economic Development Administrator, Public Works Administrator, Planning Director, and City Council). Review comments may also need to be revised based on site planning and other design changes required by City staff or made by the applicant. The applicant is encouraged to review all applicable sections of the Renton Municipal Code. The Development Regulations are available online at www.rentonwa.gov. Project Proposal: The applicant, on behalf of Dish Wireless, is proposing a new permanent Wireless Communication Facilities (WCF) concealed structure at 207 Main Ave S (APN 7231501245). The proposed WCF would be located on the rooftop of the existing six (6) story mixed-use building and would include three antennas located behind three separate screening walls. Ancillary equipment would be located near the center of the roof and would be connected to each antennas via fiber and power cables. The subject parcel is 27,250 sq. ft. (0.63 acres) and is located in the Center Downtown (CD) zoning district and the Urban Design District A overlay. The site is designated Commercial Mixed Use (CMU) in the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map. The three (3) proposed antennas would extend approximately 4.5 feet above the roofline with one screening wall per antenna extending a few feet above the proposed antennas. According to the applicant, the purpose of the new facility is to provide better coverage to Dish Wireless customers in the immediate area. According to COR Maps, a high seismic hazard area is located on the site and the site is located within the Wellhead Protection Area Zone 1. No vegetation would need to be removed as a result of the project and no new impervious surfaces would be added. Current Use: The subject parcel is developed with a six (6) story residential mixed-use building. Zoning: The subject property is located within the Center Downtown (CD) zone and Commercial Mixed Use comprehensive plan designation. The proposed use is classified as a Concealed facility, defined as “A wireless communication facility that is incorporated into an existing structure, that was not originally constructed to be a WCF support structure (e.g., an existing building), in a manner that completely hides the WCF within the existing structure or within an addition to the existing structure that is architecturally compatible” per RMC 4-11-070. Concealed Wireless Communication Facilities require an Administrative Conditional Use Permit within the R-10 zone. Conditional Use (Administrative): A conditional use is a land use which may be permitted within a zoning district following review by staff to establish conditions mitigating impacts of the use and to assure compatibility with other uses in the district. Staff will consider the following criteria when reviewing a request for a conditional use permit related to a WCF: 4 a. Height and Design: The height of the proposed tower and/or antenna as well as incorporation of design characteristics that have the effect of reducing or eliminating visual obtrusiveness. b. Proximity to Surrounding Uses: The nature of uses on adjacent and nearby properties and the proximity of the tower and/or antenna to residential structures and residential district boundaries. c. Nature of Surrounding Uses: The nature of uses on adjacent and nearby properties. The proposed use at the proposed location shall not result in substantial or undue adverse effects on adjacent property. d. Topography and Vegetation: The surrounding topography and tree canopy coverage. e. Ingress/Egress: The proposed ingress and egress. f. Impacts: The potential noise, light, glare, and visual impacts. g. Collocation Feasibility: The availability of suitable existing towers and other structures to accommodate the proposal. h. Consistency with Plans and Regulations: The compatibility with the general purpose, goals, objectives and standards of the Comprehensive Plan, this Title, and any other City plan, program, map or ordinance. i. Landscaping: Additional landscaping may be required to buffer adjacent properties from potentially adverse effects of the proposed use. (Ord. 5675, 12-3-2012) Development Standards: Standards and requirements for all types of wireless communication facilities are contained in RMC 4-4-140F: Equipment Shelters/Cabinets - a. Location: Except for equipment related to small cell facilities and temporary wireless communication facilities, 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 for all facilities other than small cell facilities and temporary wireless communication facilities 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 screening 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. Equipment shelters and cabinets for small cell facilities shall be concealed in accordance with subsection J of this Section. (Ord. 5798, 4-25-2016) c. Size: Except for equipment related to temporary wireless communication facilities, 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, and meets any size requirements of this Code. 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) d. Generators: Except for temporary wireless facilities, the following standards apply to generators powering all types of wireless communication facilities: 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, 5 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. 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. Maximum Height – All wireless communication facilities shall comply with RMC 4-3-020, Airport Related Height and Use Restrictions, as well as the height limitations in the RMC 4-4-140, Wireless Communications Facilities. Concealed and/or camouflaged WCFs erected on a rooftop may extend up to sixteen feet (16') above the allowed zone height. The maximum building height in the CD zone is 150 ft. Setbacks – The rooftop WCF shall comply with the setbacks in the CD zone. The proposed WCF would comply if fully located on the rooftop of the existing building without any appurtenance projections. 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 nonreflective neutral color that best matches the colors within the immediately surrounding built and natural landscape in order to reduce the contrast between the WCF and the landscape.Compliance with this requirement will be verified at the time of Conditional Use Permit application. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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) 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 6 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. Standards for Concealed Wireless Communications Facilities- The proposed WCF would be classified as a “concealed WCF”, a type of WCF identified in the Renton Municipal Code. 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. Per RMC 4-4-140.G, “Concealed WCFs” shall adhere to the following standards (in addition to the general WCF standards above): 1. Building Addition: All antennas shall be fully concealed within a structure that is architecturally compatible with the existing building. Roof top additions shall be concealed on all sides. 2. Related Equipment: The related equipment shall be completely concealed inside a structure or inside an underground vault. Concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls and prefabricated facilities do not meet the intent of a concealed WCF. Equipment enclosures shall be designed to be compatible with the existing building/structure. 3. Materials: Fiberglass reinforced plastic or radio frequency transparent materials may be used to screen and integrate a WCF with an existing building. Visible transition lines between the old and new surfaces are prohibited. 4. Architectural Elements: New architectural features such as columns, pilasters, corbels, or other ornamentation that conceal antennas may be used if they complement the architecture of the existing building. 5. 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.). Screening – Screening must be provided for all surface-mounted and roof top utility and mechanical equipment. The site plan application will need to include elevations and details for the proposed methods of screening (see RMC 4-4-095). Access/Driveways: Access to the equipment is not indicated, but is presumed to be via the existing roof top access. No changes to site access are proposed. Significant Tree Retention: No trees are proposed for removal. If the proposal changes and trees are proposed for removal, compliance with RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations would be required. Fences/Walls: No fences/walls are proposed as part of the project. If the applicant intends to install any fences or retaining walls as part of the project, refer to RMC 4-4-040, Fencing and Retaining Wall Standards. Critical Areas: According to COR Maps, high seismic hazard is present on the site. Based on the presence of geological hazards on the site, the applicant may be required to submit a geotechnical report for the site prepared by a professional geotechnical engineer. If required, the report shall be submitted with the formal land use application. The proposed project is also within the Wellhead Protection Area Zone 1. A fill source statement is required to be submitted prior to the start of construction if any fill is brought onto the site. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ascertain whether any additional critical areas or environmental concerns are present on the site during site development or building construction. Environmental Review: The proposed WCF would be categorically exempt from Environmental (SEPA) Review if the maximum height of the structure is less than 60 feet (includes all branches or equipment appurtenances), or if it includes the collocation of new equipment, removal of equipment, or replacement of existing equipment on existing or replacement structures that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of such structures Permit Requirements: The proposal would be required to obtain an Administrative Conditional Use Permit. The application would be reviewed concurrently in an estimated time frame of eight (8) weeks following acceptance of a complete application. The 2023 fees are as follows: Administrative Conditional Use Permit application fee - 7 $1,800.00. Any modification requests to code standards are $290.00 per modification. A 5% technology fee would also be assessed at the time of land use application. All fees are subject to change. Detailed information regarding the land use application submittal can be found on the City’s new website by clicking “Land Use Applications” on the Community & Economic Development page, then “All Forms (A to Z).” The City now requires electronic plan submittal for all applications. The City’s Electronic File Standards can also be found on the City’s website at https://edocs.rentonwa.gov/Documents/Browse.aspx?startid=867190&dbid=0. In addition to the required land use permits, separate construction and building permits would be required. Public Notice: Public Information Signs are required for all Type II Land Use Permits (Administrative Conditional Use Permit), as classified by RMC 4-8-080. Public Information Signs are intended to inform the public of potential land development, specific permits/actions being considered by the City, and to facilitate timely and effective public participation in the review process. The applicant must follow the specifications provided in the public information sign handout (see land use forms on City website). The applicant is solely responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, removal, and any costs associated with the sign. Next Steps: When the formal application materials are complete, the applicant shall have the materials pre- screened virtually prior to submitting the complete application package. Please contact Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner at 425-430-7219 or amorganroth@rentonwa.gov to schedule a virtual prescreen appointment. Expiration: Once the Conditional Use Permit application has been approved, the applicant has two years to comply with all conditions of approval and to apply for any necessary permits before the approval becomes null and void. The approval body that approved the original application may grant a single two-year extension. The approval body may require a public hearing for such extension.