33.49.520 Performance standards.
(1) Height. Where siting of a WCF is allowed, the following height restrictions shall apply, provided that if a proposed site is also subject to other governmental height restrictions, the more stringent standards shall apply:
(a) Attached WCFs. Attached WCFs shall not add more than fifteen (15) feet in height to the support structure to which it is attached, nor shall such additional height exceed maximum height restrictions pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this section.
(b) WCFs with Support Towers.
(i) Resource Zones. Maximum height shall be 200 feet.
(ii) Rural Zones. Where allowed in rural zones within Preference 2 areas, maximum height shall be 150 feet. Within Preference 3 rural zones, maximum height shall be 100 feet.
(iii) Urban, Commercial, and Industrial Zones. Maximum height shall be eighty-five (85) feet.
(2) Setbacks. Setbacks shall be measured from the base of the WCF support tower to the property line of the parcel on which it is located. Setbacks for auxiliary structures shall be those of the underlying zoning district or a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet, whichever is greater. The following setback standards shall apply for new support tower installations:
(a) Setbacks shall be equal to 110 percent of the height of the support tower or 150 feet, whichever is greater.
(b) In all areas, an attachment device or attached antenna may not encroach into a required setback as specified in the underlying zone. All equipment shelters, cabinets, or other on-the-ground auxiliary equipment shall also be subject to the setback requirements provided by this chapter.
(3) Landscaping and Screening. The goal of an approved landscaping and screening plan is to establish and maintain healthy, long-lived, native vegetation in such a configuration as to effectively screen or conceal WCFs from view. To this end, a landscaping and screening plan shall be submitted with all proposal applications, subject to review.
To the extent possible, existing native vegetation shall be retained. If the Review Authority finds that existing vegetation is inadequate for screening of a WCF, supplemental plantings of fast-growing, drought-resistant native species outside the facility security fencing shall be required as the responsibility of the facility operator. Additionally, the operator shall provide continued maintenance of required landscaping as necessary to maximize the survivability and effectiveness of the vegetative screening.
Except for those proposals pursuant to CCC 33.49.510(3)(e), New Support Towers at Existing Sites, all new support towers shall be subject to the following screening standards:
(a) Preference 1 and 2 areas: New support tower facilities shall maintain a minimum 100-foot radial screening buffer of mature, coniferous forests for the lifetime of the facility. A minimum area around the tower may be established as a clear safety zone;
(b) Preference 3 areas: New support tower facilities shall maintain a minimum 150-foot radial screening buffer of mature, coniferous forests for the lifetime of the facility. A minimum area around the tower may be established as a clear safety zone.
(c) Buffers shall be measured from the outside edge of the clear safety zone.
(d) Screening buffers may be reduced up to a maximum of fifty (50) percent if the proposed new support tower utilizes camouflage technology (e.g., camouflaging a tower to resemble a conifer) to minimize visual impacts.
(e) Minimum “average tree height” of the trees within the radial screening buffer shall equal or exceed two-thirds (2/3) of the height of the proposed support tower.
(f) Existing canopy cover of the radial screening buffer shall equal or exceed sixty (60) percent. The canopy cover standard may be reduced up to fifty (50) percent if camouflage technology is employed.
(g) An applicant may seek a variance from the screening provisions of this section by satisfying the requirements specified in CCC 33.49.530, Variances, and as required by Chapter 33.30 CCC, Variances.
Average tree height shall be determined by referring to the estimated mean site index for a given site as provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Soil Survey of Clallam County. This index is then compared to the age class of the on-site stand of timber by reference to Weyerhaeuser Forestry Paper #8, July, 1966, Site Index Curves to determine the estimated average tree height of a given site.
Example:
In this example, a proposed site is dominated by Catla gravelly sandy loam, as described by the Soil Survey of Clallam County, and is forested by Douglas fir, estimated to be forty (40) years old. The survey describes the estimated mean site index for Douglas fir for these soils, based on a fifty (50) year site curve, as eighty-two (82) feet.
Referring to the above referenced Weyerhaeuser paper, one finds the fifty (50) year site index table for Douglas fir. Reading down the far left column labeled “Breast-height Age” one comes to the appropriate forest age (in this case, forty (40) years). Then, reading across this row until it comes to the column labeled “80” (the nearest figure to the site index of eighty-two (82) provided by the soil survey) it is determined that the average tree height for this stand of timber is approximately 69.3 feet.
This method requires the applicant to determine the age class of the forest stand on site, and to demonstrate to the Review Authority the means by which the age was estimated.
In the event that average tree height cannot be estimated by the above method, alternative means may be used. In these situations the applicant must provide adequate documentation of the methodology by which the height was determined.
Topping of screening trees shall be allowed to maintain operation of a facility; however, any topping activity shall be subject to all other applicable regulations (e.g., Chapter 27.12 CCC, Critical Areas Code). Such removal of vegetation shall be restricted to only that which is necessary for continued operation, and to the greatest extent possible shall not result in the deaths of trees. Topping shall be considered an amendment to the original landscaping and screening plan and shall require the proponent to present written documentation of this amendment to the Review Authority for approval.
(4) Color and Camouflage. For all new wireless communications facilities, the following criteria shall apply:
(a) Unless otherwise required by the FAA, all support towers and antennas shall have a nonglare finish of gray, blue, green or other color and/or combination of colors, that effectively blends with the natural background. Similarly, any auxiliary support equipment shall be finished in a manner that blends with background vegetation. Final determination of color or finish shall be subject to the approval of the Review Authority, based on sample finish chips submitted in accordance with CCC 33.49.630(3), Application Submittal.
(b) Antennas and associated equipment not located on a support tower shall be of a neutral color that matches the color of the supporting structure to the greatest extent to minimize visual impacts.
(c) The use of camouflage techniques shall be encouraged. Such camouflage shall be appropriate to the environment in which the facility is proposed. Proposals employing such technology shall include provisions for adequate maintenance to ensure camouflage effectiveness for the useful life of the facility.
(5) Security and Lighting. Communication towers and associated structures shall be surrounded by locked security fencing a minimum of six (6) feet in height. Fencing shall include privacy slats if deemed necessary by the Review Authority, and shall be of a color that blends with the surroundings as per subsection (4) of this section. As stipulated in CCC 33.49.510(12), anti-climbing device(s) shall be required for security fencing.
Except as required by the FAA, artificial lighting of wireless communications towers shall be prohibited. Security lighting for equipment shelters or cabinets and other on-the-ground auxiliary equipment is allowed, as long as lighting utilizes “cut-off” type fixtures and is down-shielded to keep direct light within the site boundaries. White strobe lighting shall be prohibited.