23.57.008

A. In Neighborhood Residential, Lowrise, Midrise, Highrise, Neighborhood Commercial, and Seattle Mixed zones, physical expansion of a major communication utility may be permitted only when: 1. The expanded facility will be a shared-use utility, and another broadcaster has contracted to relocate its transmitter to the expanded facility; and 2. A different existing tower of similar size in the immediate vicinity will be removed within six months of issuance of the certificate of occupancy. B. Access to sites containing major communication utilities is restricted to authorized personnel by fencing or other means of security. This fencing or other barrier shall be incorporated into the landscaping and/or screening to reduce visual impact of the facility. C. Setbacks and landscaping 1. Major communication utility structures, including accessory structures, shall be set back at least 20 feet from all lot lines. 2. The required setback shall be landscaped as follows: a. A 5-foot-deep setback measured perpendicular to the lot lines shall be planted with ground cover. b. The area between 5 feet and 10 feet in from all lot lines shall be planted with continuous vegetation consisting of bushes. c. The area between 10 feet and 20 feet in from all lot lines shall be planted with view-obscuring vegetation consisting of evergreen hedges and evergreen trees a minimum of 10 feet tall at the time of planting and expected to reach at least 30 feet at maturity. d. All landscaping shall conform to the Director's Rule on Landscape Standards. e. Bioretention facilities are allowed as part of the landscaping requirement if the resulting screening and mitigation of visual impacts is the same as would otherwise result from the provision of the requirements of this subsection 23.57.008.C.2. 3. Exceptions to landscaping and setback requirements a. The setback requirement of subsection 23.57.008.C.1 may be reduced for any particular frontage of the utility site which is adjacent to, or across a street or alley from, a commercially zoned lot and the Director finds that an alternate plan for screening and landscaping would result in the same screening and mitigation of visual impacts as would result from the provision of the requirements of subsections 23.57.008.C.1 and 23.57.008.C.2, and would result in an appearance compatible with the commercial area. Alternative screening devices could include decorative walls, fences, or murals. The screening may be provided by a structure if the appearance is compatible with the commercial area and if it results in the screening of the base of the transmission tower from adjacent uses. b. The setback and landscaping requirements of subsection 23.57.008.C shall not apply when the lot is adjacent to, or across a street or alley from, an industrially zoned lot. c. Landscaping requirements of subsection 23.57.008.C.2 may be waived or reduced if the distance from the lot line to the structure is far enough to substantially diminish the impact of the height of the structure or if the topography or existing vegetation provides a visual barrier comparable to the requirements of subsection 23.57.008.C.2. D. The maximum height limit for all major communication utilities is 1,100 feet above mean sea level. These structures are also subject to Chapter 23.64 , Airport Height District. Accessory structures are subject to the height limits of the zone. E. The applicant shall use material, shape, color and lighting to minimize to the greatest extent practicable the visual impact, as long as these measures are not inconsistent with the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration. F. The applicant shall submit and follow a construction and maintenance plan to control or eliminate off-site impacts from construction or maintenance debris and icefall. This plan shall include a requirement to notify residents and business owners on properties immediately adjacent to or across a street or alley from the site when maintenance work such as sandblasting or painting is to occur. G. When a horn or dish antenna over 4 feet in any dimension is proposed to be added to an existing tower that already contains 15 such antennas, per Section 23.57.003 or Section 23.57.005 , the applicant shall submit copies of Federal Communications Commission licenses for auxiliary broadcast service, showing that all of the existing 15 horn and dish antennas that are over 4 feet in any dimension, plus any proposed additional such horn or dish antenna, are accessory to the communication utility. H. Equipment shelters and other accessory structures shall comply with the development standards of this Section 23.57.008 whether or not physical expansion, as defined in Section 23.84A.006 , is proposed. (Ord. 126509 , § 82, 2022 [zone name change]; Ord. 124952 , § 22, 2015; Ord. 124172, § 46, 2013; Ord. 122311 , § 72, 2006; Ord. 120928, § 29, 2002; Ord. 116295 , § 25, 1992.)