Title
PUBLIC HEARING on Proposed Amendments to Wireless Communication Facilities (WCF) Regulations
Recommended Action
Public Hearing; no action required.
Report
Issue:
AT&T proposed amendments to Olympia's Antennas and Wireless Communications Facilities ordinance that would:
* Allow as permitted uses (not conditional uses/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 recent 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; RCW 43.21C.0384 regarding State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) exemptions].
Since the WCF ordinance has not been reviewed since adoption in 2006 and significant changes have occurred in the wireless communication industry and in Federal and State laws, staff proposes a more comprehensive amendment for the public hearing as outlined below.
Staff Contact:
Steve Friddle, Principal Planner, 360.753.8591
Presenter(s):
Steve Friddle, Principal Planner
Background and Analysis:
On April 21, 2014, the Commission received a briefing on AT&T's proposed amendments to Olympia's WCF ordinance (staff report file No. 14-0395). Since that time the City has contracted for expert legal consultant assistance, worked with AT&T, the Heritage Commission (May 28 and June 25, 2014) and representatives from the Coalition of Neighborhoods. As a result of this effort, staff prepared more detailed amendments (See Attachment #1). The purpose of this public hearing staff report is to provide a high level overview summarizing the proposed amendments. In the order that the amendments occur in the attached draft, the proposal now includes:
1. Amending the "Purpose and Intent" (OMC 18.44.020) in Section 2 (pages 4 - 5) to incorporate consistency with State and Federal laws (...
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