The purpose of this section is to establish standards that regulate the placement, appearance, and impact of wireless communication facilities, while providing residents and the business community with the ability to access and adequately utilize the services that these facilities support. The characteristics of wireless communications facilities are such that they have the potential to impact not only the area immediately surrounding the facility, but also the community as a whole. Because of these potential impacts, the standards are intended to ensure that the visual and aesthetic impacts of wireless communication facilities are reduced to the greatest extent possible.
(Ord. 24-05, 6/5/2024)
The following items shall be provided as part of an application for the placement and construction of a wireless communication facility. These items are in addition to other information that may be required for the appropriate use permit. The manager may waive an application requirement described herein when it is determined that the information is not necessary to process or make a decision on the application being submitted.
A. 
A site plan drawn to scale indicating the location of the proposed antenna(s), support structure and equipment facility and relevant dimensions.
B. 
A photograph of the type of proposed antenna(s), support structure and equipment facility at a site similar to the proposal.
C. 
The materials being proposed, including the colors of the exterior materials.
D. 
A study of the visual impact of the proposed wireless communication facility consisting of a graphic simulation illustrating the appearance of the proposed facility as seen from up to five locations within the impacted area. Such locations are to be mutually agreed upon by the city manager and the applicant.
E. 
A map showing all the applicant's existing and proposed wireless communication facility sites within and adjacent to Cannon Beach, including a description of the wireless communication facility at each location. Adjacent to Cannon Beach is defined as within one mile of the city's urban growth boundary or visible from anywhere within the city's urban growth boundary, whichever is greater.
F. 
A map indicating the anticipated service coverage area of the proposed wireless communication facility.
G. 
A collocation feasibility study conducted for an area whose dimensions are pertinent to the proposed service area of the facility being proposed. The study will demonstrate that collocation efforts were made and provides findings on why collocation can or cannot occur.
H. 
Where less preferred locations or designs, as described in Section 17.82.030 are proposed, a description of other alternatives considered (alternate sites, alternative support structure heights, number of facilities, and equipment utilized), and the reasons why higher priority locations or designs were not selected.
I. 
A technical review study, if required by the city manager, in conformance with Section 17.82.030(D), Technical Review.
(Ord. 24-05, 6/5/2024)
Wireless communication facilities are permitted in all zoning districts except the open space (OS) zone. All wireless communication facilities shall be located, designed, constructed, treated, and maintained in accordance with the following standards:
A. 
Preferred Locations and Designs. The following sites shall be considered by applicants as the preferred order for the location and design of proposed wireless communication facilities:
Preferred Locations and Designs in Priority Order
Location/Design
Level of Review
1.
Co-location or shared location on an existing wireless communication facility.
Outright use
2.
Micro antenna array attached to an existing structure.
Development permit/no notice
3.
Mini Antenna Array attached to an existing public facility such as a water tower or public building.
Design review
4.
Mini antenna array attached to an existing utility pole located in a street right-of-way.
Design review
5.
Mini antenna array attached to an existing commercial building.
Design review
6.
Mini antenna array attached to a new utility pole within the street right-of-way, up to a height of 60 feet.
Conditional use
7.
Attachment to an existing structure where the height or area of the antennas exceed those of a mini antenna array.
Conditional use
8.
A monopole not located in a street right-of-way, up to a height of 60 feet.
Conditional use
The following additional location criteria apply to, preferred location and design priority six through eight listed above:
1. 
South of Ecola Creek, areas west of the Hemlock Street right-of-way will be avoided.
2. 
North of Ecola Creek, areas west of Larch Street should be avoided.
3. 
Locations on streets where underground utility service has been established should be avoided.
B. 
General Standards.
1. 
All facilities shall be installed and maintained in compliance with the requirements of the Building Code.
2. 
All WCFs shall be designed to minimize their visual impact to the greatest extent feasible.
3. 
The smallest and least visible antennas, to accomplish the coverage objectives, shall be utilized. Preference will be given to applications which utilize small or minimal size antennas that are less than two square feet in total area or size.
4. 
Antenna(s) attached to an existing structure shall be placed so as to integrate, as much as possible, with the building's design features and materials. Where appropriate, construction of screening to obscure the facility shall be required. Wall mounted antennas shall be integrated architecturally with the style and character of the structure, or otherwise made as unobtrusive as possible. If possible, antennas should be located entirely within an existing or newly created architectural feature so as to be completely screened from view. To the extent feasible, wall-mounted antennas should not be located on the front or most prominent façade of a structure and should be located above the pedestrian line-of-sight.
5. 
Colors and materials for WCFs shall be chosen to minimize their visibility. When painted, WCFs shall be painted or textured using colors to match or blend with the primary background of the facility, including the skyline or horizon.
6. 
Equipment facilities shall be placed in underground vaults wherever feasible. Aboveground equipment, facilities shall meet the setback requirements of the zone in which they are located and shall be reviewed through the design review process of Chapter 17.70 to ensure that they are designed, sited and landscaped to minimize the visual impact on the surrounding environment.
7. 
An existing utility pole may be replaced by a new utility pole made of wood with an additional height of 10 feet, up to a maximum of 50 feet, at the same pole location and still be subject to design review rather than a conditional use. Replacement of an existing utility pole with a metal pole shall be reviewed as a No. 6 siting priority requiring a conditional use permit. A new utility pole placed pursuant to siting priority No. 6 shall be a replacement pole not resulting in an additional utility pole in the street right-of-way.
8. 
A mini antenna array is the largest antenna array that is allowed on a monopole.
9. 
Exterior lighting for a WCF is permitted only when required by a federal or state authority.
10. 
A WCF placed pursuant to this chapter is exempt from the height requirements of the zoning district in which it is located.
C. 
Modifications to Approved Plans. Proposed modifications to a WCF that requires design review approval shall be evaluated pursuant to Section 17.70.110, Revision of Approved Plans. Proposed modifications to a WCF that requires a conditional use permit shall be reviewed as a conditional use.
D. 
Technical Review. If determined to be appropriate, the city manager may employ, on behalf of the city, an independent technical expert to review the technical information provided by the applicant in response to Section 17.82.020(G) and 17.82.020(H). The technical review will be used to determine if adequate service coverage can be provided by alternative facility designs and locations not selected by the applicant, but which have a higher design priority as described in Section 17.82.030(A), Development Standards, Preferred Locations and Designs. The applicant shall pay the cost of any such study.
E. 
Abandonment and Obsolescence. A wireless communication carrier shall notify the city of any plans to abandon or discontinue the use of a WCF. The facility shall be removed within 90 days of its abandonment. If the WCF is not removed within 90 days, the city may remove the WCF at the owner's expense. Any WCF that is not operated for a continuous period of 12 months shall be considered abandoned and the owner of such WCF shall remove the WCF within 90 days of receipt of notice from the city manager notifying the owner of such abandonment, or the city shall remove the facility at the owner's expense. If there are two or more users of a single WCF, then this provision shall not become effective until all users cease using the WCF.
F. 
Antenna—Exceptions. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to household radio or television reception antennas, satellite, or microwave parabolic antennas not used by wireless communication service providers, and antennas owned and operated by a federally-licensed amateur radio station operator (ham).
G. 
Nonconforming Wireless Communication Facilities. Wireless communication facilities that were located in conformance with applicable zoning requirements at the time of their construction, but which no longer conform to location standards for wireless communication facilities shall be considered pre-existing uses pursuant to Section 17.88.060.
(Ord. 24-05, 6/5/2024)