Title
Wireless Communication Facilities Code Amendment - PUBLIC HEARING
Recommended Action
Public Hearing; no action required.
Report
Issue:
AT&T proposed amendments to Olympia's Antennas and Wireless Communications Facilities ordinance (CPD File #14-0008) that would:
* ?Allow as permitted uses (as opposed to conditional uses considered by the hearing examiner) concealed wireless facilities on any publically owned property (includes schools, parks and others including within Historic Districts); and
* ?Variety of updates for consistency with changes to Federal and State laws (new time limits and further exemptions from SEPA). [Section 6409 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, a.k.a "Spectrum Act"; RCW 43.21C.0384 regarding State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) exemptions].
Staff proposed a more comprehensive amendment to the WCF ordinance, on which the Olympia Planning Commission held a public hearing September 8, 2014. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Report and Order on October 21, 2014, adopting rules implementing the federal Spectrum Act. After extensive additional legal review of the FCC rules, and review of other cities' ordinances responding to those rules, staff now recommends a more limited ordinance (Attachment #1) and resolution (Attachment #2). The ordinance creates a separate chapter in the Olympia Municipal Code to specifically address requirements of the 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):
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director
Background and Analysis:
A brief history of WCF regulation in Olympia since 2005 is described below.
Background and Summary of Proposed Ordinance and Resolution
On January 23, 2014, AT&T proposed amendments to Olympia's Antennas and Wireless Commu...
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