Title
Approval of Ordinance Amending Wireless Communication Facilities Code (OMC 18.44 and 18.46) and Resolution Amending Application Content Lists (OMC 18.77)
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Planning Commission unanimously recommends adoption of the attached Wireless Communication Facilities Ordinance and Resolution
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the wireless communication facilities ordinance on second reading.
Report
Issue:
Should the Council adopt the attached Wireless Communication Facilities (WCF) Ordinance and Resolution, amending the City's code provisions for review of proposed modifications to existing WCF's? [Note: WCF's are typically antennas or groups of antennas attached to a support structure, such as a building, water tower, or a free-standing cell tower.]
The ordinance creates a separate chapter OMC 18.46 in the Olympia Municipal Code to specifically address requirements of changes to federal and state laws. The resolution creates the permit application requirements to implement the ordinance.
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development (CPD), 360.753.8206
Presenter(s):
None. Consent calendar item.
Background and Analysis:
Background and analysis have not changed from first to second reading.
A brief history of WCF regulation in Olympia since 2005 is described in the attachment.
Recent Changes to Federal and State Telecommunications Laws
The attached WCF Ordinance and Resolution would amend the city code to comply with several recent changes in federal and state laws.
In 2012, Congress adopted the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act (a.k.a "the Spectrum Act"). Section 6409 of the Spectrum Act significantly limits local government permitting authority over proposed modifications to existing WCFs, if they do not result in a substantial change to the physical dimensions of that facility. In 2014-15, the Federal Communicati...
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